you think I should do nothing?"

"I don't see what you can do. You have encountered a chimney sweeper,
and of course you get some of the soot. What you do do, and what
you do not do, must depend at any rate on the wishes of Lady Laura
Kennedy and her father. It is a matter in which you must make
yourself subordinate to them."

Fuming and fretting, and yet recognising the truth of Mr. Low's
words, Phineas left the chambers, and went down to his club. It was
a Wednesday, and the House was to sit in the morning; but before
he went to the House he put himself in the way of certain of his
associates in order that he might hear what would be said, and learn
if possible what was thought. Nobody seemed to treat the accusations
in the newspaper as very serious, though all around him congratulated
him on his escape from Mr. Kennedy's pistol. "I suppose the poor man
really is mad," said Lord Cantrip, whom he met on the steps of one of
the clubs.

"No doubt, I should say."

"I can't understand why you didn't go to the police."

"I had hoped the thing would not become public," said Phineas.

"Everything becomes public;--everything of that kind. It is very hard
upon poor Lady Laura."

"That is the worst of it, Lord Cantrip."

"If I were her father I should bring her to England, and demand a
separation in a regular and legal way. That is what he should do now
in her behalf. She would then have an opportunity of clearing her
character from imputations which, to a certain extent, will affect
it, even though they come from a madman, and from the very scum of
the press."

"You have read that article?"

"Yes;--I saw it but a minute ago."

"I need not tell you that there is not the faintest ground in the
world for the imputation made against Lady Laura there."

"I am sure that there is none;--and therefore it is that I tell you
my opinion so plainly. I think that Lord Brentford should be advised
to bring Lady Laura to England, and to put down the charges openly in
Court. It might be done either by an application to the Divorce Court
for a separation, or by an action against the newspaper for libel.
I do not know Lord Brentford quite well enough to intrude upon him
with a letter, but I have no objection whatever to having my name
mentioned to him. He and I and you and poor Mr. Kennedy sat together
in the same Government, and I think that Lord Brentford would trust
my friendship so far." Phineas thanked him, and assured him th