Mr.Whip Vigil, on the other hand, declared on the part of Government that the bridge was wholly unnecessary; that if it were built it ought to be pulled down again; and that not a stiver could be given out of the public purse with such an object.
On this they joined issue.

Mr.Nogo prayed for a committee, and Mr.Vigil, having duly consulted his higher brethren in the Government, conceded this point.

It may easily be conceived how high were now the hopes both of Undy Scott and Alaric Tudor.

It was not at all necessary for them that the bridge should ever be built; that, probably, was out of the question; that, very likely, neither of them regarded as a possibility.

But if a committee of the House of Commons could be got to say that it ought to be built, they might safely calculate on selling out at a large profit.
But who were to sit on the committee?
That was now the all-momentous question..