"That wouldn't have any effect on their votes." But, in truth, it mattered very little whether Mr Moffat spoke, or whether he didn't speak.

Four o'clock was the hour for closing the poll, and that was now fast coming.

Tremendous exertions had been made about half-past three, by a safe emissary sent from Nearthewinde, to prove to Mr Reddypalm that all manner of contingent advantages would accrue to the Brown Bear if it should turn out that Mr Moffat should take his seat for Barchester.

No bribe was, of course, offered or even hinted at.

The purity of Barchester was not contaminated during the day by one such curse as this.