"Certainly not: I despise the fools who do."

"And you will not abet revolutionary measures if you get into
Parliament?"

"My dear Sir Peter, I fear you have heard very false reports of my
opinions if you put such questions. Listen," and therewith Gordon
launched into dissertations very clever, very subtle, which committed
him to nothing, beyond the wisdom of guiding popular opinions into
right directions: what might be right directions he did not define; he
left Sir Peter to guess them. Sir Peter did guess them, as Gordon
meant he should, to be the directions which he, Sir Peter, thought
right; and he was satisfied.

That subject disposed of, Gordon said, with much apparent feeling,
"May I ask you to complete the favours you have lavished on me? I
have never seen Exmundham, and the home of the race from which I
sprang has a deep interest for time. Will you allow me to spend a few
days with you, and under the shade of your own trees take lessons in
political science from one who has evidently reflected on it
profoundly?"

"Profoundly, no; a little,--a little, as a mere bystander," said Sir
Peter, modestly, but much flattered. "Come, my dear boy, by all
means; you will have a hearty welcome. By the by, Travers and his
handsome daughter promised to visit me in about a fortnight, why not
come at the same time?"

A sudden flash lit up the young man's countenance.