E Phillips Oppenheim

A Prince of Sinners E Phillips Oppenheim

MR. KINGSTON BROOKS, POLITICAL AGENTAlready the sweepers were busy in the deserted hall, and the lights burned low. Of thegreat audience who had filled the place only half-an-hour ago not one remained. Theechoes of their tumultuous cheering seemed still to linger amongst the rafters, the dustwhich their feet had raised hung about in a little cloud. But the long rows of benches wereempty, the sweepers moved ghostlike amongst the shadows, and an old woman wasthrowing tealeaves here and there about the platform. In the committee-room behind alittle group of men were busy with their leave-takings. The candidate, a tall, somewhatburly man, with hard, shrewd face and loosely knit figure, was shaking hands with everyone. His tone and manner savoured still of the rostrum."Good-night, sir! Good-night, Mr. Bullsom! A most excellent introduction, yours, sir! Youmade my task positively easy. Good-night, Mr. Brooks. A capital meeting, and everythingvery well arranged. Personally I feel very much obliged to you, sir. If you carry everythingthrough as smoothly as this affair to-night, I can see that we shall lose nothing by poorMorrison's breakdown. Good-night, gentlemen, to all of you. We will meet at the club ateleven o'clock to-morrow morning. Eleven o'clock precisely, if you please."The candidate went out to his carriage, and the others followed in twos and threes. A youngman, pale, with nervous mouth, strongly-marked features and clear dark eyes, looked upfrom a sheaf of letters which he was busy sorting."Don't wait for me, Mr. Bullsom," he said. "Reynolds will let me out, and I had better runthrough these letters before I leave."Mr. Bullsom was emphatic to the verge of gruffness."You'll do nothing of the sort," he declared. "I tell you what it is, Brooks. We're not going tolet you knock yourself up. You're tackling this job in rare style. I can tell you that Henslow isdelighted."