ach conclave they were
telling something new or something old as to the iniquities
perpetrated at Trumpeton Wood.

On that evening before dinner Madame Goesler was told by her
hostess that Phineas Finn was expected on the following day. The
communication was made quite as a matter of course; but Lady Chiltern
had chosen a time in which the lights were shaded, and the room was
dark. Adelaide Palliser was present, as was also a certain Lady
Baldock,--not that Lady Baldock who had abused all Papists to poor
Phineas, but her son's wife. They were drinking tea together over
the fire, and the dim lights were removed from the circle. This, no
doubt, was simply an accident; but the gloom served Madame Goesler
during one moment of embarrassment. "An old friend of yours is coming
here to-morrow," said Lady Chiltern.

"An old friend of mine! Shall I call my friend he or she?"

"You remember Mr. Finn?"

That was the moment in which Madame Goesler rejoiced that no strong
glare of light fell upon her face. But she was a woman who would not
long leave herself subject to any such embarrassment. "Surely," she
said, confining herself at first to the single word.

"He is coming here. He is a great friend of mine."

"He always was a good friend of yours, Lady Chiltern."

"And of yours, too, Madame Max. A sort of general friend, I think,
was Mr. Finn in the old days. I hope you will be glad to see him."

"Oh, dear, yes."

"I thought him very nice," said Adelaide Palliser.

"I remember mamma saying, before she was mamma, you know," said Lady
Baldock, "that Mr. Finn was very nice indeed, only he was a Papist,
and only he had got no money, and only he would fall in love with
everybody. Does he go on falling in love with people, Violet?"

"Never with married women, my dear. He has had a wife himself since
that, Madame Goesler, and the poor thing died."

"And now here he is beginning all over again," said Lady Baldock.

"And as pleasant as ever," said her cousin. "You know he has done all
manner of things for our family. He picked Oswald up once after one
of those terrible hunting accidents; and he saved Mr. Kennedy when
men were murdering him."

"That was questionable kindness," said Lady Baldock.

"And he sat for Lord Brentford's borough."

"How good of him!" said Miss Palliser.

"And he has done all manner of things," said Lady Chiltern.

"Didn't he once fight a duel?" asked Madame Goesler.

"That was the grandest thin