But they who sat on the same side with him in the House and watched his political manoeuvres, knew that he was striving hard to get his finger into the public pie.

He was not a rich man, though he had made calico and had got into Parliament.

And though he claimed to be a thoroughgoing Radical, he was a man who liked to live with aristocrats, and was fond of listening to the whispers of such as the Duke of St Bungay or Mr Palliser.

It was supposed that he did understand something of finance.

He was at any rate great in figures; and as he was possessed of much industry, and was obedient withal, he was a man who might make himself useful to a Chancellor of the Exchequer ambitious of changes.
There are men who get into such houses as Matching Priory and whose presence there is a mystery to many;--as to whom the ladies of the house never quite understand why they are entertaining such a guest.
"And Mr Bott is coming," Mr Palliser had said to his wife.