'Wealdon and I have jotted down a few names here,' said Lake, sliding a list of names before me; 'you know some of them, I think--rather a strong committee; don't you think so? Those fellows with the red cross before have promised.' 'Yes; it's very strong--capital!' I said, crunching my toast. 'Is it thought the writs will follow the dissolution unusually quickly?' 'They must, unless they want a very late session. But it is quite possible the government may win--a week ago they reckoned upon eleven.' And as we were talking the post arrived. 'Here they are!' cried Lake, and grasping the first morning paper he could seize on, he tore it open with a greater display of energy than I had seen that languid gentleman exhibit on any former occasion. CHAPTER LXVI. LADY MACBETH. 'Here it is,' said the captain. 'Beaten'--then came an oath--'three votes--how the devil was that?--there it is, by Jove--no mistake--majority against ministers, three! Is that the "Times?" What does _it_ say?' 'A long leader--no resignation--immediate dissolution. That is what I collect from it.' 'How on earth could they have miscalculated so! Swivell, I see, voted in the majority; that's very odd; and, by Jove, there's Surplice, too, and he's good for seven votes. Why his own paper was backing the ministers! What a fellow that is! That accounts for it all. A difference of fourteen votes.' And thus we went on, discussing this unexpected turn of luck, and reading to one another snatches of the leading articles in different interests upon the subject. Then Lake, recollecting his letters, opened a large-sealed envelope, with S.C.G. in the corner. 'This is from Gybes--let us see. Oh! _before_ the division. "It looks a little fishy," he says--well, so it does--"We may take the division to-night. Should it prove adverse, you are to expect an immediate dissolution; this on _the best authority_. I write to mention this, as I may be too much hurried to-morrow."' We were discussing this note when Wealdon arrived. 'Well, captain; great news, Sir. The best thing, I take it, could have happened ministers, ha, ha, ha! A rotten house--down with it--blow it up--three votes only--but as good as three hundred for the purpose--of the three hundred, grant but three, you know--of course, they don't think of resigning.' 'Oh, dear, no--an immediate dissolution. Read that,' said Lake, tossing Gybes' note to him. 'Ho, then, we'll have the writs down hot and heavy. We must be sharp. The sheriff's all right; that's a point. You must not lose an hour in getting your committee together, and printing your address.' 'Who's on the other side?' 'You'll have Jennings, of course; but they are talking of four different men, already, to take Sir Harry Twisden's place. _He'll_ resign; that's past a doubt now. He has his retiring address written; Lord Edward Mordun read it; and he told FitzStephen on Sunday, after church, that he'd never sit again.'