"I am glad, Volumnia," repeats Sir Leicester, unmindful of these mollifying sentiments, "that you do mean what a pity. It is disgraceful to the electors. But as you, though inadvertently and without intending so unreasonable a question, asked me 'what for?' let me reply to you. For necessary expenses. And I trust to your good sense, Volumnia, not to pursue the subject, here or elsewhere."
Sir Leicester feels it incumbent on him to observe a crushing aspect towards Volumnia because it is whispered abroad that these necessary expenses will, in some two hundred election petitions, be unpleasantly connected with the word bribery, and because some graceless jokers have consequently suggested the omission from the Church service of the ordinary supplication in behalf of the High Court of Parliament and have recommended instead that the prayers of the congregation be requested for six hundred and fifty-eight gentlemen in a very unhealthy state.
"I suppose," observes Volumnia, having taken a little time to recover her spirits after her late castigation, "I suppose Mr. Tulkinghorn has been worked to death."

"I am glad, Volumnia," says Sir Leicester, "that you do mean 'what a pity'. But as you asked me 'what for?' let me reply. For necessary expenses. And I trust to your good sense, Volumnia, not to pursue the subject, here or elsewhere."
Sir Leicester feels it necessary to crush Volumnia's enquiry because it is whispered abroad that these necessary expenses will, in some cases, be unpleasantly connected with the word bribery.
"I suppose," observes Volumnia, having taken a little time to recover her spirits, "I suppose Mr. Tulkinghorn has been worked to death."
