s
matter of interest to him. Everything he held, he held as it were in
trust for the enjoyment of others. But he was a man whom it was very
difficult to advise. He did not like advice. He was so thin-skinned
that any counsel offered to him took the form of criticism. When
cautioned what shoes he should wear,--as had been done by Lady
Rosina, or what wine or what horses he should buy, as was done by his
butler and coachman, he was thankful, taking no pride to himself for
knowledge as to shoes, wine, or horses. But as to his own conduct,
private or public, as to any question of politics, as to his opinions
and resolutions, he was jealous of interference. Mr. Warburton
therefore had almost trembled when asking the Duke whether he was
quite sure about sending the money to Lopez. "Quite sure," the Duke
had answered, having at that time made up his mind. Mr. Warburton had
not dared to express a further doubt, and the money had been sent.
But from the moment of sending it doubts had repeated themselves in
the Prime Minister's mind.

Now he sat with the newspaper in his hand thinking of it. Of course
it was open to him to take no notice of the matter,--to go on as
though he had not seen the article, and to let the thing die if it
would die. But he knew Mr. Quintus Slide and his paper well enough to
be sure that it would not die. The charge would be repeated in the
"People's Banner" till it was copied into other papers; and then the
further question would be asked,--why had the Prime Minister allowed
such an accusation to remain unanswered? But if he did notice it,
what notice should he take of it? It was true. And surely he had a
right to do what he liked with his own money so long as he disobeyed
no law. He had bribed no one. He had spent his money with no corrupt
purpose. His sense of honour had taught him to think that the man had
received injury through his wife's imprudence, and that he therefore
was responsible as far as the pecuniary loss was concerned. He was
not ashamed of the thing he had done;--but yet he was ashamed that it
should be discussed in public.

Why had he allowed himself to be put into a position in which he was
subject to such grievous annoyance? Since he had held his office he
had not had a happy day, nor,--so he told himself,--had he received
from it any slightest gratification, nor could he buoy himself up
with the idea that he was doing good service for his country. After
a while he walked into th