Madame Goesler since
they had been together at Harrington Hall, and had never before met
Mr. Maule. When riding home with the lady after their unsuccessful
attempt to jump out of the wood, Phineas had promised to call in
Park Lane whenever he should learn that Madame Goesler was not at
Matching. Since that the Duke had died, and the bond with Matching no
longer existed. It seemed but the other day that they were talking
about the Duke together, and now the Duke was gone. "I see you are in
mourning," said Phineas, as he still held her hand. "I must say one
word to condole with you for your lost friend."

"Mr. Maule and I were now speaking of him," she said, as she
introduced the two gentlemen. "Mr. Finn and I had the pleasure of
meeting your son at Harrington Hall a few weeks since, Mr. Maule."

"I heard that he had been there. Did you know the Duke, Mr. Finn?"

"After the fashion in which such a one as I would know such a one as
the Duke, I knew him. He probably had forgotten my existence."

"He never forgot any one," said Madame Goesler.

"I don't know that I was ever introduced to him," continued Mr.
Maule, "and I shall always regret it. I was telling Madame Goesler
how profound a reverence I had for the Duke's character." Phineas
bowed, and Madame Goesler, who was becoming tired of the Duke as a
subject of conversation, asked some question as to what had been
going on in the House. Mr. Maule, finding it to be improbable that he
should be able to advance his cause on that occasion, took his leave.
The moment he was gone Madame Goesler's manner changed altogether.
She left her former seat and came near to Phineas, sitting on a sofa
close to the chair he occupied; and as she did so she pushed her hair
back from her face in a manner that he remembered well in former
days.

"I am so glad to see you," she said. "Is it not odd that he should
have gone so soon after what we were saying but the other day?"

"You thought then that he would not last long."

"Long is comparative. I did not think he would be dead within six
weeks, or I should not have been riding there. He was a burden to me,
Mr. Finn."

"I can understand that."

"And yet I shall miss him sorely. He had given all the colour to my
life which it possessed. It was not very bright, but still it was
colour."

"The house will be open to you just the same."

"I shall not go there. I shall see Lady Glencora in town, of course;
but I shall not go to Match