with deep humiliation that "he HAD consulted Mr. Scully among other
friends."

Mr. Crampton smiled--drew a letter from a heap before him, and
tearing off the signature, handed over the document to his nephew.
It contained the following paragraphs:--

"Hawksby has sounded Scully: we can have him any day we want him.
He talks very big at present, and says he would not take anything
under a. . . This is absurd. He has a Yorkshire nephew coming up
to town, and wants a place for him. There is one vacant in the Tape
Office, he says: have you not a promise of it?"

"I can't--I can't believe it," said John; "this, sir, is some weak
invention of the enemy. Scully is the most honourable man
breathing."

"Mr. Scully is a gentleman in a very fair way to make a fortune,"
answered Mr. Crampton. "Look you, John--it is just as well for your
sake that I should give you the news a few weeks before the papers,
for I don't want you to be ruined, if I can help it, as I don't wish
to have you on my hands. We know all the particulars of Scully's
history. He was a Tory attorney at Oldborough; he was jilted by the
present Lady Gorgon, turned Radical, and fought Sir George in his
own borough. Sir George would have had the peerage he is dying for,
had he not lost that second seat (by-the-by, my Lady will be here in
five minutes), and Scully is now quite firm there. Well, my dear
lad, we have bought your incorruptible Scully. Look here,"--and Mr.
Crampton produced three Morning Posts.