_Lord Lum_. Come, come, my dear Sir Pertinax, you must not be angry with the serjeant for his insisting so warmly on this point--for those boroughs, you know, are my sheet anchor.
_Sir Per_. I know it, my lord,--and, as an instance of my promptness to study, and of my acquiescence till your lordship's inclination, as I see that this Serjeant Eitherside wishes you weel and you him, I think now he would be as guid a man to be returned for one of those boroughs as could be pitched upon--and as such, I humbly recommend him till your lordship's consideration.
_Lord Lum_. Why, my dear Sir Pertinax, to tell you the truth, I have already promised him. He must be in for one of them, and that is one reason why I insisted so strenuously: he must be in.
_Sir Per_. And why not? odswunds! why not? is nai your word a fiat? and will it nai be always so till me? are ye nai my friend--my patron--and are we nai, by this match of our children, to be united intill one interest?
_Lord Lum_. So I understand it, I own, Sir Pertinax.
_Sir Per_. My lord, it can nai be otherwise: then, for Heaven's sake, as your lordship and I can have but one interest for the future, let us have nai mair words about these paltry boroughs, but conclude the agreement just as it stands; otherwise there must be new writings drawn, new consultations of lawyers, new objections and delays will arise,--creditors will be impatient and impertinent, so that we shall nai finish the Lord knows when.
_Lord Lum_. You are right, you are right: say no more, Mac, say no more. Split the lawyers--you judge the point better than all Westminster-hall could. It shall stand as it is: yes, you shall settle it your own way: for your interest and mine are the same, I see plainly.
_Enter Counsellor_ PLAUSIBLE _and Serjeant_ EITHERSIDE.
_Lord Lum_. So, gentlemen--well, what have you done? how are your opinions now?
_Serj_. My lord, Mr. Plausible has convinced me--fully convinced me.
_Plaus_. Yes, my lord, I have convinced him; I have laid such arguments before Mr. Serjeant as were irresistible.
_Serj_. He has indeed, my lord: besides, as Sir Pertinax gives his honour that your lordship's nomination shall be sacredly observed, why, upon a nearer review of the whole matter, I think it will be the wiser measure to conclude the agreement just as it is drawn.