"Let him, sir, be with me at my house in Ruffian Row by nine to-morrow morning to a minute--and alone," said Mr. O'Gibbet, with his lip close to Titmouse's ear--"and once more, d'ye hear, sir?--a breath about this to any one, an' you're a ruined man--you're in my power most complately!"--With this Mr. O'Gibbet and Mr. Titmouse parted--the former having much other similar business on hand, and the latter determined to hurry off to Mr. Gammon forthwith: and in fact he was within the next five minutes in his cab, on his way to Thavies' Inn. Mr. Gammon was at Mr. O'Gibbet's (of whom he spoke to Titmouse in the most earnest and unqualified terms of admiration) at the appointed time: and after an hour's private conference with him, they both went off to Mr. Flummery's official residence in Pillory Place; but what passed there I never have been able to ascertain with sufficient accuracy to warrant me in laying it before the reader. When the day for taking into consideration the YATTON PETITION had arrived--on a voice calling out at the door of the House, "Counsel in the Yatton petition!" in walked forthwith eight learned gentlemen, four being of counsel for the petitioner, and four for the sitting member--attended by their respective agents, who stood behind, while the counsel took their seats at the bar of a very crowded and excited House; for there were several election committees to be balloted for on that day. The door was then locked; and the order of the day was read. Titmouse might have been seen popping up and down about the back ministerial benches, like a parched pea. On the front Treasury bench sat Mr. O'Gibbet, his hat slouched over his fat face, his arms folded. On the table stood several glasses, containing little rolls of paper, each about two or three inches long, and with the name of every member of the House severally inscribed on them. These glasses being placed before the Speaker, the clerk rose, and taking out one or two of the rolls of paper at a time, presented them to the Speaker; who, opening each, read out aloud the name inscribed, to the House. Now, the object was, on such occasions, to draw out the names of _thirty-three_ members then present; which were afterwards to be reduced, by each party alternately striking off eleven names, to ELEVEN--who constituted the committee charged with the trial of the petition. Now the astute reader will see that, imagining the House to be divided into two great classes, viz. those _favorable_ and those _opposed_ to the petitioner--according to whose success or failure a vote was retained, lost, or gained to the _party_--and as the number of thirty-three cannot be more nearly divided than into seventeen and sixteen, 't is said by those experienced in such matters, that in cases where it ran so close--that side invariably and necessarily won who drew the _seventeenth_ name; seeing that each party having eleven names of those in his opponent's interest, to expunge out