_Talbot_. Fair play, Wheeler! Have at ’em, my boy! There they stand, fair game! There’s Bursal there, with his dead forty-five votes at command; and Lord John with his—how many live friends? _Lord John_ (_coolly_). Sir, I have fifty-six friends, I believe. _Talb._ Fifty-six friends, his lordship believes—Wheeler inclusive, no doubt. _Lord J._ That’s as hereafter may be. _Wheeler_. Hereafter! Oh, fie, my _lud_! You know your own Wheeler has, from the first minute he ever saw you, been your fast friend. _Talb._ Your fast friend from the first minute he ever saw you, my lord! That’s well hit, Wheeler; stick to that; stick fast. Fifty-six friends, Wheeler _in_clusive, hey, my lord! hey, my _lud_! _Lord J._ Talbot _ex_clusive, I find, contrary to my expectations. _Talb._ Ay, contrary to your expectations, you find that Talbot is not a dog that will lick the dust: but then there’s enough of the true spaniel breed to be had for whistling for; hey, Wheeler? _Bursal_ (_aside to Wheeler_). A pretty electioneerer. So much the better for you, Wheeler. Why, unless he bought a vote, he’d never win one, if he talked from this to the day of judgment. _Wheeler_ (_aside to Bursal_). And as he has no money to buy votes—he! he! he!—we are safe enough. _Talb._ That’s well done, Wheeler; fight the by-battle there with Bursal. Now you are sure of the main with Lord John. _Lord J._ Sure! I never made Mr. Wheeler any promise yet. _Wheel._ O; I ask no promise from his lordship; we are upon honour: I trust entirely to his lordship’s good nature and generosity, and to his regard for his own family; I having the honour, though distantly, to be related. _Lord J._ Related! How, Wheeler? _Wheel._ Connected, I mean, which is next door, as I may say, to being related. Related slipped out by mistake; I beg pardon, my Lord John. _Lord J._ Related!—a strange mistake, Wheeler. _Talb._ Overshot yourself, Wheeler; overshot yourself, by all that’s awkward. And yet, till now, I always took you for “a dead-shot at a yellow-hammer.” {151} _Wheel._ (_taking Bursal by the arm_). Bursal, a word with you. (_Aside to Bursal_.) What a lump of family pride that Lord John is. _Talb._ Keep out of my hearing, Wheeler, lest I should spoil sport. But never fear: you’ll please Bursal sooner than I shall. I can’t, for the soul of me, bring myself to say that Bursal’s not purse-proud, and you can. Give you joy. _Burs._ A choice electioneerer!—ha! ha! ha! _Wheel._ (_faintly_). He! he! he!—a choice electioneerer, as you say. (_Exeunt Wheeler and Bursal_; _manent Lord J. and Talbot_.) _Lord J._ There was a time, Talbot— _Talb._ There was a time, my lord—to save trouble and a long explanation—there was a time when you liked Talbots better than spaniels; you understand me? _Lord J._ I have found it very difficult to understand you of late, Mr. Talbot.