’TheDukeofStBungaythinksthatsomethingshouldbesaid。’
’Icouldnot，myselfconsenteventoappeartodesireinformationonamattersoentirelypersonaltoyourself。’TheDukebowed，andsmiledwithacold，glittering，uncomfortablesmilewhichwouldsometimescrosshisfacewhenhewasnotpleased，andnomorewasthensaidonthesubject。
AttemptsweremadetohavethequestionaskedinafardifferentspiritbysomehostilememberoftheHouseofCommons。SirOrlandoDroughtwassounded，andheforawhiledidgiveeartothesuggestion。But，ashecametohavethematterfullbeforehim，hecouldnotdoit。TheDukehadspurnedhisadviceasaminister，andhadrefusedtosanctionameasurewhichhe，astheheadofabranchoftheGovernment，hadproposed。TheDukehadsooffendedhimthatheconceivedhimselfboundtoregardtheDukeashisenemy。Butheknew，——andhecouldnotescapefromtheknowledge，——thatEnglanddidnotcontainamorehonourablemanthantheDuke。HewasdelightedthattheDukeshouldbevexedandthwarted，andcalledillnamesinthematter。Tobegratifiedatthisdiscomfitureofhisenemywasinthenatureofparliamentaryopposition。Anyblowthatmightweakenhisopponentwasablowinhisfavour。Buthiswasablowwhichhecouldnotstrikewithhisownhands。TherewerethingsinparliamentarytacticswhichevenSirOrlandocouldnotdo。
ArthurFletcherwasalsoaskedtoundertakethetask。Hewasthesuccessfulcandidate，themanwhoopposedLopez，andwhowasdeclaredbythePeople’sBannertohaveemancipatedthatboroughbyhisnobleconductfromthetyrannyoftheHouseofPalliser。AnditwasthoughtthathemightlikeanopportunityofmakinghimselfknownintheHouse。Buthewassimplyindignantwhenthesuggestionwasmadetohim。’Whatisittome，’hesaid，’whopaidtheblackguard’sexpenses？’
ThiswentonforsomeweeksafterParliamenthadmet，andforsomedaysevenafterthearticleinwhichdirectallusionwasmadetotheDuchess。ThePrimeMinistercouldnotbegottoconsentthatnonoticeshouldbetakenofthematter，letthepapersorthepublicsaywhattheywould，norcouldhebeinducedtoletthematterbehandledinamannerproposedbytheelderDuke。Andduringthistimehewasinsuchafeverthatthoseabouthimfeltthatsomethingmustbedone。MrMonksuggestedthatifeverybodyheldhistongue，——meaningalltheDuke’sfriends，——thethingwouldwearitselfout。Butitwasapparenttothosewhowerenearesttotheminister，toMrWarburton，forinstance，andtheDukeofStBungay，thatthemanhimselfwouldbewornoutfirst。Thehappyprofessorofathickskincanhardlyunderstandhowonenotsoblessedmaybehurtbythethongofalittlewhip！Atlastthematterwasarranged。AttheinstigationofMrMonk，SirJamesDeering，whowasreallythefatheroftheHouse，anindependentmember，butonewhogenerallyvotedwiththeCoalition，consentedtoaskthequestionintheHouseofCommons。AndPhineasFinnwasinstructedbytheDukeastotheanswerthatwastobegiven。TheDukeofOmniumingivingtheseinstructionsmadeamysteryofthematterwhichhebynomeanshimselfintended。Buthewassosorethathecouldnotbesimpleinwhathesaid。’MrFinn，’hesaid，’youmustpromisemethis——thatthenameoftheDuchessshallnotbementioned。’