he debate was
to degenerate into a war of man against man. Phineas, and Erle, and
Laurence Fitzgibbon allowed themselves to be lashed into anger, and,
as far as words went, had the best of it. But of what use could it
be? Every man there had come into the House prepared to vote for or
against the Duke of Omnium,--or resolved, like Mr. Lupton, not to
vote at all; and it was hardly on the cards that a single vote should
be turned this way or that by any violence of speaking. "Let it
pass," said Mr. Monk in a whisper to Phineas. "The fire is not worth
the fuel."

"I know the Duke's faults," said Phineas; "but these men know nothing
of his virtues, and when I hear them abuse him I cannot stand it."

Early in the night,--before twelve o'clock,--the House divided, and
even at the moment of the division no one quite knew how it would go.
There would be many who would of course vote against the amendment
as being simply desirous of recording their opinion in favour of the
Bill generally. And there were some who thought that Sir Orlando and
his followers had been too forward, and too confident of their own
standing in the House, in trying so violent a mode of opposition. It
would have been better, these men thought, to have insured success
by a gradual and persistent opposition to the Bill itself. But they
hardly knew how thoroughly men may be alienated by silence and a cold
demeanour. Sir Orlando on the division was beaten, but was beaten
only by nine. "He can't go on with his Bill," said Rattler in one of
the lobbies of the House. "I defy him. The House wouldn't stand it,
you know." "No minister," said Roby, "could carry a measure like that
with a majority of nine on a vote of confidence!" The House was of
course adjourned, and Mr. Monk went at once to Carlton Terrace.

"I wish it had only been three or four," said the Duke, laughing.

"Why so?"

"Because there would have been less doubt."

"Is there any at present?"

"Less possibility for doubt, I will say. You would not wish to make
the attempt with such a majority?"

"I could not do it, Duke!"

"I quite agree with you. But there will be those who will say that
the attempt might be made,--who will accuse us of being faint-hearted
because we do not make it."

"They will be men who understand nothing of the temper of the House."

"Very likely. But still, I wish the majority had only been two or
three. There is little more to be said, I suppose."

"Very little,