ntioned Boulogne. And yet what should he have done? She would
cross-question him about Lord Chiltern, and it was so essentially
necessary that he should make her understand his real condition. It
had all come from that man's unjustifiable interference,--as he would
at once go and tell him. Of course he would marry Adelaide, but the
marriage must be delayed. Everybody waits twelve months before they
are married; and why should she not wait? He was miserable because he
knew that he had made her unhappy;--but the fault had been with Lord
Chiltern. He would speak his mind frankly to Chiltern, and then would
explain with loving tenderness to his Adelaide that they would still
be all in all to each other, but that a short year must elapse before
he could put his house in order for her. After that he would sell his
horses. That resolve was in itself so great that he did not think
it necessary at the present moment to invent any more plans for the
future. So he went out into the hall, took his hat, and marched off
to the kennels.

At the kennels he found Lord Chiltern surrounded by the denizens of
the hunt. His huntsman, with the kennelman and feeder, and two whips,
and old Doggett were all there, and the Master of the Hounds was in
the middle of his business. The dogs were divided by ages, as well
as by sex, and were being brought out and examined. Old Doggett was
giving advice,--differing almost always from Cox, the huntsman, as
to the propriety of keeping this hound or of cashiering that. Nose,
pace, strength, and docility were all questioned with an eagerness
hardly known in any other business; and on each question Lord
Chiltern listened to everybody, and then decided with a single word.
When he had once resolved, nothing further urged by any man then
could avail anything. Jove never was so autocratic, and certainly
never so much in earnest. From the look of Lord Chiltern's brow it
almost seemed as though this weight of empire must be too much for
any mere man. Very little notice was taken of Gerard Maule when he
joined the conclave, though it was felt in reference to him that he
was sufficiently staunch a friend to the hunt to be trusted with
the secrets of the kennel. Lord Chiltern merely muttered some words
of greeting, and Cox lifted the old hunting-cap which he wore. For
another hour the conference was held. Those who have attended such
meetings know well that a morning on the flags is apt to be a long
affair. Old Dog