in the grand hall, which was never used as an entrance except on
very grand occasions. "Is it not? And it cost--oh, I can't tell you
how much it cost. A hundred thousand pounds or more. Well;--that
would be nothing, as the Duke no doubt had the money in his pocket
to do what he liked with at the time. But the joke is, nobody ever
thinks of living here. Who'd live in such a great, overgrown place
such as this, if they could get a comfortable house like Matching? Do
you remember Longroyston and the hot-water pipes? I always think of
the poor Duchess when I come through here. Nobody ever lives here, or
ever will. The Duke comes for one week in the year, and Plantagenet
says he hates to do that. As for me, nothing on earth shall ever make
me live here. I was completely in their power and couldn't help their
bringing me here the other day;--because I had, as it were, disgraced
myself."

"How disgraced yourself?"

"In being so long, you know, before that gentleman was born. But they
shan't play me the same trick again. I shall dare to assert myself,
now. Come,--we must go away. There are some of the British public
come to see one of the British sights. That's another pleasure here.
One has to run about to avoid being caught by the visitors. The
housekeeper tells me they always grumble because they are not allowed
to go into my little room up-stairs."

On the evening of that day Mr Palliser and Mr Grey returned home from
Silverbridge together. The latter was then a Member of Parliament,
but the former at that moment was the possessor of no such dignity.
The election for the borough was now over, whereas that for the
county had not yet taken place. But there was no rival candidate for
the position, and Mr Palliser was thoroughly contented with his fate.
He was at this moment actually Chancellor of the Exchequer, and in
about ten days' time would be on his legs in the House proposing for
his country's use his scheme of finance. The two men were seated
together in an open carriage, and were being whirled along by four
horses. They were both no doubt happy in their ambition, but I think
that of the two, Mr Palliser showed his triumph the most. Not that he
spoke even to his friend a word that was triumphant in its tone. It
was not thus that he rejoiced. He was by nature too placid for that.
But there was a nervousness in his contentment which told the tale to
any observer who might know how to read it.

"I hope you'll like it