CHAPTER VI.
Phineas and His Old Friends Phineas Finn returned from Tankerville to London in much better spirits than those which had accompanied him on his journey thither.
He was not elected; but then, before the election, he had come to believe that it was quite out of the question that he should be elected.

And now he did think it probable that he should get the seat on a petition.

A scrutiny used to be a very expensive business, but under the existing law, made as the scrutiny would be in the borough itself, it would cost but little; and that little, should he be successful, would fall on the shoulders of Mr.Browborough.Should he knock off eight votes and lose none himself, he would be member for Tankerville.

He knew that many votes had been given for Browborough which, if the truth were known of them, would be knocked off; and he did not know that the same could be said of any one of those by which he had been supported.

But, unfortunately, the judge by whom all this would be decided might not reach Tankerville in his travels till after Christmas, perhaps not till after Easter; and in the meantime, what should he do with himself?
As for going back to Dublin, that was now out of the question.