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No election of a Mee as that of Westland since the ballot had been established by law Men who heretofore had known, or thought that they kne elections would go, who counted up prohed the doubtful ones, now confessed themselves to be in the dark Three days since the odds had been considerably in Melmotte's favour; but this had come from the reputation attached to his name, rather than from any calculation as to the politics of the voters Then Sunday had intervened On the Monday Mel fro Early in the day his supporters had thought little of this, attributing the fall to that vacillation which is customary in such matters; but towards the latter part of the afternoon the tidings from the City had been in everybody's mouth, and Melmotte's committee-room had been alested that his naestion, however, was made to him,--perhaps, because no one dared to y for the election, as regarded Melmotte and his party, died away; and the interest of the hour was turned to the dinner
But Mr Alf's supporters were very busy There had been a close consultation a a few of them as to what should be done by their Coainst the opposite candidate In the 'Pulpit' of that evening an allusion had been ible to those ere iiven no name and mentioned no details Mr Alf explained that this had been put in by the sub-editor, and that it only afforded such news as the paper was bound to give to the public He himself pointed out the fact that no note of triumph had been sounded, and that the ruentleman was of opinion that they were bound to make the ,' said the old gentleet the seat if we can keep hi should be done to erations as public as possible,-- so that there should be no opening for an indictentleht be effected But the Coht in this manner Public opinion has its Bar as well as the Law Courts If, after all, Melmotte had committed no fraud,--or, as was much more probable, should not be convicted of fraud,--then it would be said that the accusation had been forged for purely electioneering purposes, and there ht be a rebound which would pretty well crush all those who had been concerned Individual gentlemen could, of course, say what they pleased to individual voters; but it was agreed at last that no overt use should be ard to other h The dinner to the Emperor was turned into ridicule, and the electors were asked whether they felt theentleman out of the City to Parlia all the royalties then assembled in London There was very much said on placards and published in newspapers to the discredit of Mel was so printed which would not have appeared with equal venom had the recent rumours never been sent out froht, when Mr Alf's co hoeneral opinion at the clubs was very much in favour of Mr Alf