second-rate capacities, ready to supply their own deficiencies by
incurring a hazard. However it come, you are equally certain of it.”
There was a pause as O'Halloran concluded. Heffernan saw plainly to what
the Counsellor pointed, and that he was endeavoring to recruit for that
party of which he destined the future leadership for himself, and
Con had no fancy to serve in the ranks of such an army. O'Reilly, who
thought that the profession of a popular creed might be serviceable in
the emergency of an election, looked with more favor on the exposition,
and after a brief interval said,--
“Well, supposing I were to see this matter in your light, what support
could you promise me? I mean at the hustings.”
“Most of the small freeholders, now,-all of them, in time; the priests
to a man, the best election agents that ever canvassed a constituency.
By degrees the forces will grow stronger, according to the length and
breadth of the principle you adopt,--make it emancipation, and I 'll
insure you a lease of the county.” Heffernan smiled dubiously. “Ah,
never mind Mr. Heffernan's look; these notions don't suit him. He 's
one of the petty traders in politics, who like small sales and quick
returns.”
“Such dealing makes fewest bankrupts,” said Heffernan, coolly.
“I own to you,” said O'Halloran, “the rewards are distant, but they 're
worth waiting for. It is not the miserable bribe of a situation, or a
title, both beneath what they would accord to some state apothecary; but
power, actual power, and real patronage are in the vista.”
A heavy sigh and a rustling sound in the deep armchair announced that
the doctor was awaking, and after a few struggles to throw off the
drowsy influence, he sat upright, and made a gesture that he wished for
wine.
“We 've been talking about political matters, sir,” said O'Reilly. “I
hope we didn't disturb your doze?”
“No; I was sleeping sound,” croaked the old man, in a feeble whine, “and
I had a very singular dream! I dreamed I was sitting in a great kitchen
of a big house, and there was a very large, hairy turnspit sitting
opposite to me, in a nook beside the fire, turning a big spit with a
joint of meat on it. 'Who's the meat for?' says I to him. 'For my Lord
Castlereagh,' says he, 'devil a one else.' 'For himself alone?' says I.
'Just so,' says he; 'don't you know that's the Irish Parliament that we
're roasting and basting, and when it's done,' says he, 'we 'll sarve
it up to be carved.' 'And who are you?' says I to the turnspit. 'I'm Con
Heffernan,' says he; 'and the devil a bit of the same meat I 'm to get,
after cooking it till my teeth 's watering.'”
A loud roar of laughter from O'Halloran, in which Heffernan endeavored
to take a part, met this strange revelation of the doctor's sleep, nor
was it for a considerable time after that the conversation could be
resumed without some jesting allusion of the Counsellor to the turnspit
and his office.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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