He grasped the young member's hand, congratulated him
on his seat, and began his work as though he had never been all but
kicked out of that very same room by its present occupant. "Now you
want to know what I'm come about; don't you?"
"No doubt I shall hear in good time, Mr. Slide."
"It's an important matter;--and so you'll say when you do hear. And
it's one in which I don't know whether you'll be able to see your way
quite clear."
"I'll do my best, if it concerns me."
"It does." So saying, Mr. Slide, who had seated himself in an
arm-chair by the fireside opposite to Phineas, crossed his legs,
folded his arms on his breast, put his head a little on one side,
and sat for a few moments in silence, with his eyes fixed on his
companion's face. "It does concern you, or I shouldn't be here.
Do you know Mr. Kennedy,--the Right Honourable Robert Kennedy, of
Loughlinter, in Scotland?"
"I do know Mr. Kennedy."
"And do you know Lady Laura Kennedy, his wife?"
"Certainly I do."
"So I supposed. And do you know the Earl of Brentford, who is, I take
it, father to the lady in question?"
"Of course I do.
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