thus. It was a proud family - more
proud, indeed, than wealthy. He had stood in danger of arrest; of bailiffs, and
a jail - a vulgar jail, to which the common people with small incomes went.
Gentlemen of ancient houses have no privilege of exemption from such cruel laws
- unless they are of one great house, and then they have. A proud man of his
stock and kindred had the means of sending him there. He offered - not indeed to
pay his debts, but to let him sit for a close borough until his own son came of
age, which, if he lived, would come to pass in twenty years. It was quite as
good as an Insolvent Act, and infinitely more genteel. So Sir John Chester was a
member of Parliament.
    But how Sir John? Nothing so simple, or so easy. One touch with a sword of
state, and the transformation was effected. John Chester, Esquire, M.P.,
attended court - went up with an address - headed a deputation. Such elegance of
manner, so many graces of deportment, such powers of conversation, could never
pass unnoticed. Mr. was too common for such merit. A man so gentlemanly should
have been - but Fortune is capricious - born a Duke: just as some dukes should
have been born labourers. He caught the fancy of the king, knelt down a grub,
and rose a butterfly. John Chester, Esquire, was knighted and became Sir John.
    »I thought when you left me this evening, my esteemed acquaintance,« said
Sir John after a pretty long silence, »that you intended to return with all
despatch?«
    »So I did, master.«
    »And so you have?« he retorted, glancing at his watch. »Is that what you
would say?«
    Instead of replying, Hugh changed the leg on which he leant, shuffled his
cap from one hand to the other, looked at the ground, the wall, the ceiling, and
finally at Sir John himself; before whose pleasant face he lowered his eyes
again, and fixed them on the floor.
    »And how have you been employing yourself in the meanwhile?« quoth Sir John,
lazily crossing his legs. »Where have you been? what harm have you been doing?«
    »No harm at all, master,« growled Hugh, with humility. »I have only done as
you ordered.«
    »As I what?« returned Sir John.
    »Well then,« said Hugh uneasily, »as you advised