"I see," said Callon. "The appointment would be--for how long?" "Two years." "And the salary would be good?" Callon leaned back on the lounge as he put the question and he put it without any show of eagerness. Two years would be all the time he needed wherein to set himself straight; and it seemed the work would not be arduous. "I think so," replied Mudge. "You shall judge for yourself. It would be two thousand a year." Callon did not answer for a little while, simply because he could not trust himself to speak. His heart was beating fast. Two thousand a year for two years, plus the sum for his election expenses! He would be able to laugh at that unknown enemy who was striking at him from the dark. "Should I do?" he asked at length, and even then his voice shook. Mr. Mudge appeared, however, not to notice his agitation. He was looking down at the carpet, and tracing the pattern with the ferrule of his walking-stick. "Of course," he said, with a smile, as though Callon had been merely uttering a joke. He did not even lift his eyes to Callon's face. "Of course. I only wish you were serious." "But I am," cried Callon. Mr. Mudge looked at his companion now, and with surprise. "Are you? But you wouldn't have the time to spare. You are standing for a constituency." Callon shrugged his shoulders. "Oh, I am not so very keen about Parliament. And there are reasons why I would welcome the work." Mr. Mudge answered with alacrity. "Then we will consider it settled. Dine with me tonight at my house, and we will talk the details over." Callon accepted the invitation, and Mudge rose from his seat. Callon, however, detained him. "There's one difficulty in the way," and Mr. Mudge's face became clouded with anxiety. "The truth is, I am rather embarrassed at the present moment. I owe a good deal of money, and I am threatened with proceedings unless it is immediately paid." Mudge's face cleared at once. "Oh, is that all?" he exclaimed cheerily. "How much do you owe?" "More than my first year's salary." "Well, I will advance you half at once. Offer them a thousand on account, and they will stay proceedings." "I don't know that they will," replied Callon.