Alice, or the Mysteries — Book 05

								

chateaux, the immense estates, of our English peers tend to preserve to
us in spite of the freedom, bustle, and commercial grandeur of our people
more of the Norman attributes of aristocracy than can be found in other
countries.  In his county, the great noble is a petty prince; his house
is a court; his possessions and munificence are a boast to every
proprietor in his district.  They are as fond of talking of the earl's
or the duke's movements and entertainments, as Dangeau was of the
gossip of the Tuileries and Versailles.
Lord Raby, while affecting, as lieutenant of the county, to make no
political distinctions between squire and squire--hospitable and affable
to all--still, by that very absence of exclusiveness, gave a tone to the
politics of the whole county; and converted many who had once thought
differently on the respective virtues of Whigs and Tories.  A great man
never loses so much as when he exhibits intolerance, or parades the right
of persecution.
"My tenants shall vote exactly as they please," said Lord Raby; and he
was never known to have a tenant vote against his wishes!  Keeping a
vigilant eye on all the interests, and conciliating all the proprietors,
in the county, he not only never lost a friend, but he kept together a
body of partisans that constantly added to its numbers.
Sir John Merton's colleague, a young Lord Nelthorpe, who could not speak
three sentences if you took away his hat, and who, constant at Almack's,
was not only inaudible but invisible in parliament, had no chance of
being re-elected.  Lord Nelthorpe's father, the Earl of Mainwaring, was a
new peer; and, next to Lord Raby, the richest nobleman in the county.
Now, though they were much of the same politics, Lord Raby hated Lord
Mainwaring.  They were too near each other,--they clashed; they had the
jealousy of rival princes!
Lord Raby was delighted at the notion of getting rid of Lord
Nelthorpe,--it would be so sensible a blow to the Mainwaring interest.
The party had been looking out for a new candidate, and Maltravers had
been much talked of.  It is true that, when in parliament some years
before, the politics of Maltravers had differed from those of Lord Raby
and his set.  But Maltravers had of late taken no share in politics, had
uttered no political opinions, was intimate with the electioneering
Mertons, was supposed to be a discontented man,--and politicians believe
in no discontent that is not political.  Whispers were afloat that
Maltravers had grown wise, and changed his views: some remarks of his,
more theoretical than practical, were quoted in favour of this notion.
Parties, too, had much changed since Maltravers had appeared on the busy
scene,--new questions had arisen, and the old ones had died off.
Lord Raby and his party thought that, if Maltravers could be secured to
them, no one would better suit their purpose.  Political faction loves