That being so, and as they had been told that the Duke's son was a Conservative, they fancied that by electing him they would be pleasing everybody.

But, in truth, by so doing they would by no means please the Duke.

He had told them on previous occasions that they might elect whom they pleased, and felt no anger because they had elected a Conservative.
They might send up to Parliament the most antediluvian old Tory they could find in England if they wished, only not his son, not a Palliser as a Tory or Conservative.

And then, though the little town had gone back in the ways of the world, the county, or the Duke's division of the county, had made so much progress, that a Liberal candidate recommended by him would almost certainly be returned.

It was just the occasion on which a Palliser should show himself ready to serve his country.