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〃My dear General；〃 said Lady Gorgon； sidling up to him and patting
him on his old yellow cheek〃My dear Georgy； tell me one thing；are
you jealous？〃
〃Jealous； my dear！ and jealous of THAT fellowpshaw！〃
〃Well； then； give me leave； and you shall have the promise to…
morrow。〃
* * *
To…morrow arrived。 It was a remarkably fine day； and in the
forenoon Mr。 Perkins gave his accustomed knock at Scully's study； which
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THE BEDFORD…ROW CONSPIRACY
was only separated from his own sitting…room by a double door。 John had
wisely followed his uncle's advice； and was on the best terms with the
honourable Member。
〃Here are a few sentences；〃 said he； 〃which I think may suit your
purpose。 Great public servicesundeniable merityears of integrity
cause of reform； and Macabaw for ever！〃 He put down the paper。 It
was； in fact； a speech in favour of Mr。 Macabaw。
〃Hush；〃 said Scully； rather surlily； for he was thinking how
disagreeable it was to support Macabaw； and besides； there were clerks in
the room； whom the thoughtless Perkins had not at first perceived。 As
soon as that gentleman saw them； 〃You are busy； I see；〃 continued he in a
lower tone。 〃I came to say that I must be off duty to…day； for I am
engaged to take a walk with some ladies of my acquaintance。〃
So saying； the light…hearted young man placed his hat
unceremoniously on his head； and went off through his own door；
humming a song。 He was in such high spirits that he did not even think
of closing the doors of communication； and Scully looked after him with a
sneer。
〃Ladies； forsooth；〃 thought he； 〃I know who they are。 This precious
girl that he is fooling with； for one； I suppose。〃 He was right： Perkins
was off on the wings of love； to see Miss Lucy； and she and Aunt Biggs
and Uncle Crampton had promised this very day to come and look at the
apartments which Mrs。 John Perkins was to occupy with her happy
husband。
〃Poor devil；〃 so continued Mr。 Scully's meditations； 〃it is almost too
bad to do him out of his place； but my Bob wants it； and John's girl has； I
hear； seven thousand pounds。 His uncle will get him another place
before all that money is spent。〃 And herewith Mr。 Scully began conning
the speech which Perkins had made for him。
He had not read it more than six times；in truth； he was getting it by
heart；when his head clerk came to him from the front room； bearing a
card： a footman had brought it； who said his lady was waiting below。
Lady Gorgon's name was on the card！ To seize his hat and rush
downstairs was； with Mr。 Scully； the work of an infinitesimal portion of
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THE BEDFORD…ROW CONSPIRACY
time。
It was indeed Lady Gorgon in her Gorgonian chariot。
〃Mr。 Scully；〃 said she； popping her head out of window and smiling in
a most engaging way； 〃I want to speak to you； on something very
particular INDEED〃and she held him out her hand。 Scully pressed it
most tenderly： he hoped all heads in Bedford Row were at the windows
to see him。 〃I can't ask you into the carriage； for you see the governess is
with me； and I want to talk secrets to you。〃
〃Shall I go and make a little promenade？〃 said mademoiselle；
innocently。 And her mistress hated her for that speech。
〃No。 Mr。 Scully； I am sure； will let me come in for five minutes？〃
Mr。 Scully was only too happy。 My Lady descended and walked
upstairs； leaning on the happy solicitor's arm。 But how should he
manage？ The front room was consecrated to clerks； there were clerks too；
as ill…luck would have it； in his private room。 〃Perkins is out for the
day；〃 thought Scully； 〃I will take her into his room。〃 And into Perkins's
room he took heray； and he shut the double doors after him too； and
trembled as he thought of his own happiness。
〃What a charming little study；〃 said Lady Gorgon； seating herself。 And
indeed it was very pretty： for Perkins had furnished it beautifully； and
laid out a neat tray with cakes； a cold fowl； and sherry； to entertain his
party withal。 〃And do you bachelors always live so well？〃 continued she；
pointing to the little cold collation。
Mr。 Scully looked rather blank when he saw it； and a dreadful
suspicion crossed his soul； but there was no need to trouble Lady Gorgon
with explanations： therefore； at once； and with much presence of mind；
he asked her to partake of his bachelor's fare （she would refuse Mr。 Scully
nothing that day）。 A pretty sight would it have been for young Perkins to
see strangers so unceremoniously devouring his feast。 She drankMr。
Scully drankand so emboldened was he by the draught that he actually
seated himself by the side of Lady Gorgon； on John Perkins's new sofa。
Her Ladyship had of course something to say to him。 She was a
pious woman； and had suddenly conceived a violent wish for building a
chapel of ease at Oldborough； to which she entreated him to subscribe。
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She enlarged upon the benefits that the town would derive from it； spoke
of Sunday…schools； sweet spiritual instruction； and the duty of all well…
minded persons to give aid to the scheme。
〃I will subscribe a hundred pounds；〃 said Scully； at the end of her
Ladyship's harangue： 〃would I not do anything for you？〃
〃Thank you； thank you； dear Mr。 Scully；〃 said the enthusiastic woman。
（How the 〃dear〃 went burning through his soul！） 〃Ah！〃 added she； 〃if
you WOULD but do anything for meif you； who are so eminently； so
truly distinguished； in a religious point of view； would but see the truth in
politics too； and if I could see your name among those of th