But the hour for the post had passed--the letter must wait till the next day; and three days at least would elapse before he could receive an answer. He left the letter on the table, and, stifling as for air, went forth. He crossed the bridge--he passed on mechanically--and was borne along by a crowd pressing towards the doors of Parliament. A debate that excited popular interest was fixed for that evening, and many bystanders collected in the street to see the members pass to and fro, or hear what speakers had yet risen to take part in the debate, or try to get orders for the gallery.
He halted amidst these loiterers, with no interest, indeed, in common with them, but looking over their heads abstractedly towards the tall Funeral Abbey--Imperial Golgotha of Poets, and Chiefs, and Kings.
Suddenly his attention was diverted to those around by the sound of a name--displeasingly known to him. "How are you, Randal Leslie? Coming to hear the debate?" said a member who was passing through the street.
"Yes; Mr. Egerton promised to get me under the gallery. He is to speak himself to-night, and I have never heard him. As you are going into the House, will you remind him?"
"I can't now, for he is speaking already, and well too. I hurried from the Athenæum, where I was dining, on purpose to be in time, as I heard that his speech was making a great effect."
"This is very unlucky," said Randal, "I had no idea he would speak so early."
"M---- brought him up by a direct personal attack. But follow me; perhaps I can get you into the House; and a man like you, Leslie, of whom we expect great things some day, I can tell you, should not miss any such opportunity of knowing what this House of ours is on a field night. Come on!"
The member hurried towards the door; and as Randal followed him, a bystander cried--"That's the young man who wrote the famous pamphlet--Egerton's relation."
"Oh, indeed!" said another. "Clever man, Egerton--I am waiting for him."
"Why, you are not a constituent, as I am."
"No; but he has been very kind to my nephew, and I must thank him. You are a constituent--he is an honor to your town."
"Brings forward really good measures," quoth the politician.
Therewith one or two others joined in the praise of Audley Egerton, and many anecdotes of his liberality were told.