It must have been, to say the least, a great surprise to his lordship, when, the poll being closed, its result was found thus: Out of the fifteen votes, six were for Mr.Vermilye, nine for his opponent.

Mr.Herbert Oldtower was therefore duly elected as member for the borough of Kingswell.
The earl received the announcement with dignified, incredulous silence; but Mr.Brithwood never spared language.
"It's a cheat--an infamous conspiracy! I will unseat him--by my soul I will!" "You may find it difficult," said John Halifax, counting out the guineas deposited by Jacob Baines, and laying them in a heap before Mr.
Brown, the steward.

"Small as the number is, I believe any Committee of the House of Commons will decide that nine honester votes were never polled.

But I regret, my lord--I regret deeply, Mr.Brithwood,"-- and there was a kind of pity in his eye--"that in this matter I have been forced, as it were, to become your opponent.

Some day, perhaps, you may both do me the justice that I now can only look for from my own conscience." "Very possibly," replied the earl, with a satirical bow.