ated all fuss and noise he must do
something. So he wrote as follows to the Major:--

The Duke of Omnium trusts that Major Pountney will not
find it inconvenient to leave Gatherum Castle shortly.
Should Major Pountney wish to remain at the Castle over
the night, the Duke of Omnium hopes that he will not
object to be served with his dinner and with his breakfast
in his own room. A carriage and horses will be ready for
Major Pountney's use, to take him to Silverbridge, as soon
as Major Pountney may express to the servants his wish to
that effect.

Gatherum Castle, -- December, 18--.

This note the Duke sent by the hands of his own servant, having said
enough to the man as to the carriage and the possible dinner in the
Major's bedroom, to make the man understand almost exactly what had
occurred. A note from the Major was brought to the Duke while he was
dressing. The Duke having glanced at the note threw it into the fire;
and the Major that evening eat his dinner at the Palliser Arms Inn at
Silverbridge.

CHAPTER XXVIII

The Duchess Is Much Troubled

It is hardly possible that one man should turn another out of his
house without many people knowing it; and when the one person is a
Prime Minister and the other such a Major as Major Pountney, the
affair is apt to be talked about very widely. The Duke of course
never opened his mouth on the subject, except in answer to questions
from the Duchess; but all the servants knew it. "Pritchard tells me
that you have sent that wretched man out of the house with a flea in
his ear," said the Duchess.

"I sent him out of the house, certainly."

"He was hardly worth your anger."

"He is not at all worth my anger;--but I could not sit down to dinner
with a man who had insulted me."

"What did he say, Plantagenet? I know it was something about
Silverbridge." To this question the Duke gave no answer, but in
respect to Silverbridge he was stern as adamant. Two days after the
departure of the Major it was known to Silverbridge generally that in
the event of there being an election the Duke's agent would not as
usual suggest a nominee. There was a paragraph on the subject in the
County paper, and another in the London "Evening Pulpit." The Duke of
Omnium,--that he might show his respect to the law, not only as to
the letter of the law, but as to the spirit also,--had made it known
to his tenantry in and round Silverbridge generally that