_ CHAPTER VI. A CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE
The Premier sent his daughter home alone in a fly and walked with Coxon, whose road lay the same way. As they went, they talked of plans and prospects, and Medland unconsciously exasperated his companion by praising Norburn's character and capacity.
"Depend upon it, he's the coming man of New Lindsey," he said. "He thinks the world will get better sooner than it will, you may say. Well, perhaps I share that illusion. Anyhow he has enthusiasm and grit, and I love his utter disinterestedness."
Coxon acquiesced coldly in his rival's praises.
"That," continued Medland, "is where we have the pull. Who is there to follow Perry? Now Norburn is ready to step into my shoes the moment I'm gone, or--or come to grief."
They had reached Digby Square, a large open place, laid out with walks and trees, and named after Sir Jabez Digby, K.B., first Governor of New Lindsey. The Premier paused to light a cigar. Coxon watched him with a morose frown; he was angry and envious at Medland's disregard of the pretensions which he thought his own achievements justified. Though he was conscious that it would be wisest to say nothing, he could not help observing,
"Well, I hope it will be a long time before I am asked to change service under you for service under Norburn."
Medland's quick ear caught the note of anger.
"Well," he said, "it's ill prophesying. Time brings its own leaders. I know Norburn and you will work loyally together anyhow, whatever positions you hold to one another."
This polite concession did not appease Coxon.
"There is much that I distrust in his methods and aims," he remarked.
"I mustn't listen to this, my dear fellow."
"Of course I say it in strict----"
"Yes, but still--I should say the same to Norburn."
They walked on a few steps, and the Premier had just taken his cigar from his mouth in order to resume the conversation, when a man stepped up to him, appearing, as it seemed, from among the trees, and said,
"May I have a word with you, Mr. Medland?"
The speaker was dressed smartly, but not well, in a new suit of light clothes. He was tall and strongly built; a full grey beard made it a matter of difficulty to distinguish his features clearly in the dim light.
"I beg pardon, I don't think I've the pleasure of knowing you, but I shall be very happy. What is it, sir?"
"A word in private," said the stranger, "if this gentleman will excuse me."
In response to a glance from his chief, Coxon said good-night and strolled on, hearing Medland say,
"I seem to know your voice, but I can't lay my hand on your name."
The stranger drew nearer to him.
"I pass by the name of Benham now," he said; "I haven't forgotten you. I've too good cause to remember you."
Medland looked at him closely.
"It's only the beard that puzzles you," said the stranger, with a grim smile.
"Benyon!" exclaimed the Premier. "I thought you had left the country. What do you want with me, sir?"
"I have not left the country, and I want a good deal with you, Mr. Premier Medland."
"I lost touch of you four years ago."
"Yes; it ceased to matter what became of me about then, didn't it?"
"Have you been in the same place?"
"No; I broke. I have been up country."
"What brings you here? If you wanted money you could have written."
"I've never asked you for money. I wouldn't come to you if I wasn't hard put to it."
"What do you want then?"
"Is that all you have to say to me? Have you no regret to express to me?"
"Not an atom," said the Premier, puffing at his cigar. "If I'd felt any regret I should have expressed it long ago."
"Time doesn't seem to bring repentance to you."
"Don't talk nonsense. What do you want with me?"
"Well, yes, business is business. Look here! I am a respected man where I live. My name is known at Shepherdstown. Benham is, I say, a respected name."
"Well?"
"Now, here in Kirton I'm not known. I was never here in my life before. No one would recognise me as the man whose----"
"As Benyon? I suppose not. Well?"
"Taking all that into account, I see no reason why I shouldn't get the vacant Inspectorship of Railways. It's a nice place, and it's in your gift."
Mr. Medland raised his eyebrows and smiled.
"It involves travelling most of the time," pursued Benham, "and I needn't live in Kirton, if you preferred that arrangement."
"You are very considerate."
"You see you owe me something."
"Which I might pay out of the public purse? Is that your suggestion?"
"Oh, come, we're men of business. You're not on a platform."
"No," said Mr. Medland meditatively. "I am not on a platform. Consequently I feel at liberty to tell you--" he paused and smiled again.
"Well?"
"To go to the devil!" said the Premier.
"Take care! I know a good deal about you. There are many men would be glad to know, definitely, what I know."
"Then ask them for an Inspectorship."
Benham drew a step nearer.
"Ay, and I can hit you nearer home."
"You might have, once. What can you do now? She's safe from you," answered Medland, with a frown.
"Yes, she's safe, but there's the daughter."
"Daisy!"
"Yes, Daisy." And he added, in slow, emphatic tones--"Yes, my daughter Daisy."
Medland was about to answer violently, but he curbed his temper and said quietly,
"Your daughter? Come, don't talk nonsense."
"A daughter born to my wife in wedlock is my daughter. If I claim her, what answer is there?"
"I can prove that she's not your daughter."
"Perhaps; and what an edifying sight! The Premier proving----" Mr. Benham broke off with a laugh that sounded loud and harsh in the silent night air.
Medland ground his heel into the gravel.
"How it will please your Methodist friends, and the swells at Government House! You can tell 'em all about that trip to Meadow Beach under the name of--what was it?--Christie, wasn't it? And about your night-flitting, and----"
"Hold your tongue."
"Oh, there's no one to hear now. You won't like proving all that, will you? No, no, the girl will come to her loving father! Take a minute to think it over, Medland--take just a minute. An Inspectorship's no great matter to a politician, you know. You're not so mighty pure as all that! Take a minute. I can wait," and he flung himself on to a bench and lit a cheroot.
Then, in Digby Square, at two o'clock in the morning, the devil tempted "Jimmy" Medland. The man had indeed hit him close--very close. He had hit him in the love he bore his daughter, and in the love he bore her mother and her mother's fame. He had hit him in his love of place and power, and his nobler joy in using them for what seemed to him good purposes. Love and tenderness--pride and ambition--the man shot his arrow at all. And as Medland stood motionless in thought, across these abiding reflections came now and again a new one--the image of a face that had been that night upturned to his almost in worship, and would, if this thing were done, be turned away in sorrow, shame, and scorn.
What, after all, was an Inspectorship? It was only doing what the world said all politicians did. What, compared with losing love and power and fair fame, was it to--job an Inspectorship? Besides, from one point of view, the man had a kind of claim upon him: he had done him wrong.
"I dare say," interrupted Benham, "that you're thinking there's nothing to prevent me 'asking for more' next month. Well, of course there isn't. But I shan't. I only want a decent position and a decent income, and then I'll let you alone. Come, Medland, rancour apart, you know I'm not a common blackmailer."
This remark tickled Medland, and he smiled. Still, it was true in its way. He had known the man very well, and, harsh though he was to all about him, the man had been fairly honest and had borne a decent name. Probably what he was doing now did not seem to him much worse than any other backstairs method of getting on in the world. Medland thought that in all likelihood, if he gained his request, he would keep his word. That thought made the temptation stronger, but it forced itself on him when he remembered the number of years during which he had been even more vulnerable in one respect than he was now, and yet the man had left him alone. He could say neither yes nor no.
"You must give me a few days for consideration," he said.
Benham shrugged his shoulders in amazement.
"Have you promised the berth?" he asked.
"No, I haven't promised it."
"Got another candidate?"
"Only the man who ought to have it," answered the Premier, and Benham's air so infected him that he felt the answer to be a very weak one.
"You see," objected Benham, "from what I can learn you're only in office from day to day, so to speak, and where shall I be if you get turned out?"
"We're safe anyhow till the Assembly meets, ten days hence."
"All right. I'll give you till then. And really, Jimmy Medland, little reason as I have to love you, I should advise you not to be a fool. Here's my address. You can write."
"I shan't write. I may send or come."
Benham laughed.
"He's got some wits about him, after all! Good-night. Mind giving me a fair start? You used to be a hot-tempered fellow and--however, I suppose Premiers can't afford the luxury of assaults."
"I'm sorry to say they can't," said Mr. Medland. "I'll wait five minutes where I am."
"All right. Good-night," and Mr. Benham disappeared among the trees.
At the end of five minutes the Premier resumed his interrupted walk and soon reached his home. His study showed signs of his daughter's presence. Her fan was on the table, her gloves beside it; on the mantelpiece lay a red rose, its stalk bound round with wire. Medland recognised it as like the bud Dick Derosne had worn in his button-hole.
"The young rascal!" he said, as he mixed himself some brandy-and-water, and sat down to his desk. The table was covered with drafts of his new bill, and he pulled the papers into shape, arranged his blotting-pad, and dipped his pen in the ink. Then he lit his pipe and rested his head on the back of his chair, staring up at the ceiling. And there he stayed till the servant, coming in at six o'clock, found him hastily snatching up the pen and seeming to make a memorandum. Being Premier, she said, was killing him, and, "for my part," she added, "I don't care how soon we're out." _