--but at last it became clear, not only to him, but to
the members of the Cabinet generally, and then to the outside world,
that the Prime Minister would not consent to accept the vacant
honour.

For nearly a month after this the question subsided. A Minister is
not bound to bestow a Garter the day after it becomes vacant. There
are other Knights to guard the throne, and one may be spared for
a short interval. But during that interval many eyes were turned
towards the stall in St. George's Chapel. A good thing should be
given away like a clap of thunder if envy, hatred, and malice are
to be avoided. A broad blue ribbon across the chest is of all
decorations the most becoming, or, at any rate, the most desired. And
there was, I fear, an impression on the minds of some men that the
Duke in such matters was weak and might be persuaded. Then there came
to him an application in the form of a letter from the new Marquis
of Mount Fidgett,--a man whom he had never seen, and of whom he had
never heard. The new Marquis had hitherto resided in Italy, and
men only knew of him that he was odious to his uncle. But he had
inherited all the Fichy Fidgett estates, and was now possessed of
immense wealth and great honour. He ventured, he said, to represent
to the Prime Minister that for generations past the Marquises of
Mount Fidgett had been honoured by the Garter. His political status
in the country was exactly that enjoyed by his late uncle; but he
intended that his political career should be very different. He was
quite prepared to support the Coalition. "What is he that he should
expect to be made a Knight of the Garter?" said our Duke to the old
Duke.

"He is the Marquis of Mount Fidgett, and next to yourself, perhaps,
the richest peer of Great Britain."

"Have riches anything to do with it?"

"Something certainly. You would not name a pauper peer."

"Yes;--if he was a man whose career had been highly honourable to
the country. Such a man, of course, could not be a pauper, but I do
not think his want of wealth should stand in the way of his being
honoured by the Garter."

"Wealth, rank, and territorial influence have been generally thought
to have something to do with it."

"And character nothing!"

"My dear Duke, I have not said so."

"Something very much like it, my friend, if you advocate the claim of
the Marquis of Mount Fidgett. Did you approve of the selection of the
late Marquis?"

"I was in the Cabinet at the