Mr. Ruddles was at once despatched to London with two other political
spirits,--so that there might be a real deputation,--and waited upon
Phineas two days after his release from prison. Ruddles was very
anxious to carry his member back with him, assuring Phineas of an
entry into the borough so triumphant that nothing like to it had ever
been known at Tankerville. But to all this Phineas was quite deaf.
At first he declined even to be put in nomination. "You can't escape
from it, Mr. Finn, you can't indeed," said Ruddles. "You don't at all
understand the enthusiasm of the borough; does he, Mr. Gadmire?"
"I never knew anything like it in my life before," said Gadmire.
"I believe Mr. Finn would poll two-thirds of the Church party
to-morrow," said Mr. Troddles, a leading dissenter in Tankerville,
who on this occasion was the third member of the deputation.
"I needn't sit for the borough unless I please, I suppose," pleaded
Phineas.
"Well, no;--at least I don't know," said Ruddles. "It would be
throwing us over a good deal, and I'm sure you are not the gentleman
to do that.
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