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Contents
I. Mr. Kingston Brooks, Political Agent
II. The Bullsom Family at Home
III. Kingston Brooks has a Visitor
IV. A Question for the Country
V. The Marquis of Arranmore
VI. The Man who went to Hell
VII. A Thousand Pounds
VIII. Kingston Brooks makes Inquiries
IX. Henslow speaks out
X. A Tempting Offer
XI. Who the Devil is Brooks?
XII. Mr. Bullsom gives a Dinner-party
XIII. Charity the "Crime"
XIV. An Awkward Question
XV. A Supper-party at the "Queen's"
XVI. Uncle and Niece
XVII. Fifteen Years in Hell
XVIII. Mary Scott pays an Unexpected Call
XIX. The Marquis Mephistopheles
XX. The Confidence of Lord Arranmore
I. Lord Arranmore's Amusements
II. The Heckling of Henslow
III. Mary Scott's Two Visitors
IV. A Marquis on Matrimony
V. Brooks enlists a Recruit
VI. Kingston Brooks, Philanthropist
VII. Brooks and his Missions
VIII. Mr. Bullsom is Staggered
IX. Ghosts
X. A New Don Quixote
I. An Aristocratic Recruit
II. Mr. Lavilette interferes
III. The Singular Behaviour of Mary Scott
IV. Lord Arranmore in a New Role
V. Lady Sybil lends a Hand
VI. The Reservation of Mary Scott
VII. Father and Son
VIII. The Advice of Mr. Bullsom
IX. A Question and an Answer
X. Lady Sybil says "Yes"
XI. Brooks hears the News
XII. The Prince of Sinners speaks out
A Prince of Sinners
Already the sweepers were busy in the deserted hall, and the lightsburned low. Of the great audience who had filled the place onlyhalf-an-hour ago not one remained. The echoes of their tumultuouscheering seemed still to linger amongst the rafters, the dust whichtheir feet had raised hung about in a little cloud. But the long rowsof benches were empty, the sweepers moved ghostlike amongst the shadows,and an old woman was throwing tealeaves here and there about theplatform. In the committee-room behind a little group of men were busywith their leave-takings. The candidate, a tall, somewhat burly man,with hard, shrewd face and loosely knit figure, was shaking hands withevery one. His tone and manner savoured still of the rostrum.
"Good-night, sir! Good-night, Mr. Bullsom! A most excellentintroduction, yours, sir! You made my task positively easy.Good-night, Mr. Brooks. A capital meeting, and everything very wellarranged. Personally I feel very much obliged to you, sir. If youcarry everything through as smoothly as this affair to-night, I can seethat we shall lose nothing by poor Morrison's breakdown. Good-night,gentlemen, to all of you. We will meet at the club at eleven o'clockto-morrow morning. Eleven o'clock precisely, if you please."
The candidate went out to his carriage, and the others followed in twosand threes. A young man, pale, with nervous mouth, stro