things had brought
him untowardly to this pass, he knew that his wife's safety was his
first duty. "We will go through Switzerland," he said to himself, "to
Baden, and then we will get on to Florence and to Rome. She has seen
nothing of all these things yet, and the new life will make a change
in her. She shall have her own friend with her." Then he went down to
the House of Lords, and saw the Duke.

"Well, Palliser," said the Duke, when he had listened to him, "of
course I cannot argue it with you any more. I can only say that I am
very sorry;--more sorry than perhaps you will believe. Indeed, it
half breaks my heart." The Duke's voice was very sad, and it might
almost have been thought that he was going to shed a tear. In truth
he disliked Mr Finespun with the strongest political feeling of which
he was capable, and had attached himself to Mr Palliser almost as
strongly. It was a thousand pities! How hard had he not worked to
bring about this arrangement, which was now to be upset because a
woman had been foolish! "I never above half liked her," said the Duke
to himself, thinking perhaps a little of the Duchess's complaints of
her. "I must go to Brock at once," he said aloud, "and tell him. God
knows what we must do now. Goodbye! good-bye! No; I'm not angry.
There shall be no quarrel. But I am very sorry." In this way the two
politicians parted.

We may as well follow this political movement to its end. The Duke
saw Lord Brock that night, and then those two ministers sent for
another minister,--another noble Lord, a man of great experience
in Cabinets. These three discussed the matter together, and on the
following day Lord Brock got up in the House, and made a strong
speech in defence of his colleague, Mr Finespun. To the end of the
Session, at any rate, Mr Finespun kept his position, and held the
seals of the Exchequer while all the quidnuncs of the nation, shaking
their heads, spoke of the wonderful power of Mr Finespun, and
declared that Lord Brock did not dare to face the Opposition without
him.

In the meantime Mr Palliser had returned to his wife, and told her of
his resolution with reference to their tour abroad. "We may as well
make up our minds to start at once," said he. "At any rate, there is
nothing on my side to hinder us."

CHAPTER LX

Alice Vavasor's Name Gets into the Money Market

Some ten or twelve days after George Vavasor's return to London from
Westmoreland he appeared at Mr Scru