degraded by any foolish additional worry
about the tittle-tattle of this, that, or the other personage. Tongues
might wag; for himself, he could but do his duty and keep his account
straight with God. He hoped that a public law-suit would be avoided.
Baron Zeuill was using his influence, so he declared, to arrive at some
settlement with Parflete. Parflete's agent was now in communication with
Robert's solicitors; he himself was known to be in London, and he had
even been seen dining with foreigners at one of the small private hotels
near the Strand. The Alberian Ambassador informed Mr. Disraeli that
there was nothing to fear because Parflete was not ambitious. "The
corruption of egoism and the insatiable love of pleasure" had done its
worst to a character never striking for its energy. He would "desert"
his wife again if she would give him a sufficient sum. Mrs. Parflete,
Disraeli pointed out, was the last woman on earth to agree to such
terms. She was also perfectly well aware, he added, that she was the
legitimate daughter of the late Archduke Charles.

"But," said the Ambassador, "surely she will love the glory of her
country and the respect due to her Imperial father's memory far better
than her own legal rights?"

"You can't narrow the question to a mere sentimental issue," said
Disraeli. "It is no such thing. She has to defend her character. Orange
must clear his reputation."

Disraeli had formed the opinion that Alberia--as represented by His
Excellency--was by no means anxious to see Mrs. Parflete's innocence
established; that, in fact, the whole disaster had been planned and
executed in the sole design of compromising her status. All that had
occurred, all that he had observed led him to this conviction more and
more. It was decided that Brigit should be summoned at once from Paris
to take up her residence at the Convent, where she had been well
protected during the earlier part of the year.

"There is to be no appeal _ad misericordiam_," wrote Disraeli to
Orange: "what you have done, you have done in good faith and
perfect honesty. Parflete, beyond a doubt, will take some action.
His conscience provides him, in this difficulty, with the best
means of self-advertisement he has yet found. He has consulted
several Bishops, the Lord Chief Justice, all the ambassadors, and
most of the intelligent Peers. He wanders from one confessional to
another: St. Philip, St. Teresa,