butwhatmemberofParliamenthadhalfhispower？Itistruethatinfar-offprovincesmendidnottalkdailyofTomTowersbuttheyreadTheJupiter，andacknowledgedthatwithoutTheJupiterlifewasnotworthhaving。Thiskindofhiddenbutstillconsciousglorysuitedthenatureoftheman。
Helovedtositsilentinacornerofhisclubandlistentotheloudchatteringofpoliticians，andtothinkhowtheyallwereinhispower——howhecouldsmitetheloudestofthem，wereitworthhiswhiletoraisehispenforsuchapurpose。Helovedtowatchthegreatmenofwhomhedailywrote，andflatterhimselfthathewasgreaterthananyofthem。Eachofthemwasresponsibletohiscountry，eachofthemmustanswerifinquiredinto，eachofthemmustendureabusewithgoodhumour，andinsolencewithoutanger。Buttowhomwashe，TomTowers，responsible？Noonecouldinsulthim；noonecouldinquireintohim。Hecouldspeakoutwitheringwords，andnoonecouldanswerhim:ministerscourtedhim，thoughperhapstheyknewnothisname；bishopsfearedhim；judgesdoubtedtheirownverdictsunlessheconfirmedthem；andgenerals，intheircouncilsofwar，didnotconsidermoredeeplywhattheenemywoulddo，thanwhatTheJupiterwouldsay。
TomTowersneverboastedofTheJupiter；hescarcelyevernamedthepapereventothemostintimateofhisfriends；hedidnotevenwishtobespokenofasconnectedwithit；buthedidnotthelessvaluehisprivileges，orthinkthelessofhisownimportance。ItisprobablethatTomTowersconsideredhimselfthemostpowerfulmaninEurope；andsohewalkedonfromdaytoday，studiouslystrivingtolookaman，butknowingwithinhisbreastthathewasagod。
TomTowers，DrAnticant，andMrSentiment’Ah，Bold！howareyou？Youhaven’tbreakfasted？’
’Ohyes，hoursago。Andhowareyou？’