tantly urgent with his friend not to retire!
How often since he had taken office had the conscientious and timid
Minister begged of his friend permission to abandon his high office!
But that permission had always been refused, and now, for the last
three months, the request had not been repeated. The Duchess probably
was right in saying that her husband "didn't want to give it up now."

But he, the Duke of St. Bungay, had brought his friend into the
trouble, and it was certainly his duty to extricate him from it. The
admonition might come in the rude shape of repeated minorities in the
House of Commons. Hitherto the number of votes at the command of the
Ministry had not been very much impaired. A few always fall off as
time goes on. Aristides becomes too just, and the mind of man is
greedy of novelty. Sir Orlando, also, had taken with him a few, and
it may be that two or three had told themselves that there could not
be all that smoke raised by the "People's Banner" without some fire
below it. But there was a good working majority,--very much at Mr.
Monk's command,--and Mr. Monk was moved by none of that feeling of
rebellion which had urged Sir Orlando on to his destruction. It was
difficult to find a cause for resignation. And yet the Duke of St.
Bungay, who had watched the House of Commons closely for nearly half
a century, was aware that the Coalition which he had created had done
its work, and was almost convinced that it would not be permitted to
remain very much longer in power. He had seen symptoms of impatience
in Mr. Daubeny, and Mr. Gresham had snorted once or twice, as though
eager for the battle.

CHAPTER LXIV

The New K.G.

Early in June had died the Marquis of Mount Fidgett. In all England
there was no older family than that of the Fichy Fidgetts, whose
baronial castle of Fichy Fellows is still kept up, the glory of
archaeologists and the charm of tourists. Some people declare it to
be the most perfect castle residence in the country. It is admitted
to have been completed in the time of Edward VI, and is thought to
have been commenced in the days of Edward I. It has always belonged
to the Fichy Fidgett family, who with a persistence that is becoming
rarer every day, has clung to every acre that it ever owned, and has
added acre to acre in every age. The consequence has been that the
existing Marquis of Mount Fidgett has always been possessed of great
territorial influence, and has been flatter