But--funds!--there was the rub.
The party coffers were very poorly supplied, and unless they could be
largely replenished, and at once, the prospects of the election were
not rosy.
Marsham had hitherto counted as one of the men on whom the party could
rely. It was known that his own personal resources were not great, but
he commanded his mother's ample purse. Lady Lucy had always shown
herself both loyal and generous, and at her death it was, of course,
assumed that he would be her heir. Lady Lucy's check, in fact, sent,
through her son, to the leading party club, had been of considerable
importance in the election five years before this date, in which Marsham
himself had been returned; the Chief Whip wanted to assure himself that
in case of need it would be repeated.
But for the first time in a conversation of this kind Marsham's reply
was halting and uncertain. He would do his best, but he could not pledge
himself. When the Chief Whip, disappointed and astonished, broke up
their conference, Marsham walked into the House after him, in the morbid
belief that a large part of his influence and prestige with his party
was already gone.
Pages:
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389