of all the parties was to make it worth the voters' while to give their votes; but to do so without bribery. Mr. Romer had repeatedly declared that he would have nothing to do with any illegal practising; but he had also declared that, as long as all was done according to law, he was ready to lend his best efforts to assist Sir Roger. How he assisted Sir Roger, and adhered to the law, will now be seen.
Oh, Mr. Romer! Mr. Romer! is it not the case with thee that thou 'wouldst not play false and yet wouldst wrongly win'? Not in electioneering, Mr. Romer, any more than in other pursuits, can a man touch pitch and not be defiled; as thou, innocent as thou art, wilt soon learn to thy terrible cost.
'Well, Reddypalm,' said Mr. Romer, shaking hands with him. Mr. Romer had not been equally cautious as Nearthewinde, and had already drunk sundry glasses of ale at the Brown Bear, in the hope of softening the stern Bear-warden. 'How is it to be today? Which is to be the man?'
'If any one knows that, Mr. Romer, you must be the man. A poor numskull like me knows nothing of them matters. How should I? All I looks to, Mr. Romer, is selling a trifle of drink now and then—selling it, and getting paid for it, you know, Mr. Romer.'
'Yes, that's important, no doubt. But come, Reddypalm, such an old friend of Sir Roger as you are, a man he speaks of as one of his intimate friends, I wonder how you can hesitate about it. Now with another man, I should think that he wanted to be paid for voting—'
'Oh, Mr. Romer!—fie—fie—fie!'
'I know it's not the case with you. It would be an insult to offer you money, even if money were going. I should not mention this, only as money is not going, neither on our side nor on the other, no harm can be done.'
'Mr. Romer, if you speak of such a thing you'll hurt me. I know the value of an Englishman's franchise too well to wish to sell it. I would not demean myself so low; no, not though five-and-twenty pound a vote was going, as there was in the good old times—and that's not so long ago neither.'
'I am sure you wouldn't, Reddypalm; I'm sure you wouldn't. But an honest man like you should stick to old friends. Now, tell me,' and putting his arm through Reddypalm's, he walked with him into the passage of his own house; 'Now, tell me—is there anything wrong? It's between friends, you know. Is there anything wrong?'
'I wouldn't sell my vote for untold gold,' said Reddypalm, who was perhaps aware that untold gold would hardly be offered to him for it.
