Page:Paul Clifford Vol 2.djvu/47

Rh are to be made. Among the rest, my learned brother, the democrat Sarsden, is to have a silk gown; Cromwell is to be Attorney-general, and, between ourselves,—they have offered me a Judgeship."

"But the garter!" said Mauleverer, scarcely hearing the rest of the lawyer's news,—"the whole object, aim, and ambition, of my life. How truly kind in the King! After all," continued the Earl laughing, and throwing himself back, "Opinions are variable—truth is not uniform—the times change, not we—and we must have peace instead of war!"

"Your maxims are indisputable, and the conclusion you come to is excellent," said Brandon.

"Why, you and I, my dear fellow," said the Earl, "who know men, and who have lived all our lives in the world, must laugh behind the scenes at the cant we wrap in tinsel, and send out to stalk across the stage. We know that our Coriolanus of Tory integrity, is a corporal kept by a prostitute; and the Brutus of Whig liberty, is a lackey turned out of place for stealing the spoons,—but we must not tell this to the world. So,