gett, who had privileges, smoked a pipe, and Gerard
Maule lit one cigar after another. But Lord Chiltern had become too
thorough a man of business to smoke when so employed. At last the
last order was given,--Doggett snarled his last snarl,--and Cox
uttered his last "My lord." Then Gerard Maule and the Master left the
hounds and walked home together.

The affair had been so long that Gerard had almost forgotten his
grievance. But now as they got out together upon the park, he
remembered the tone of Adelaide's voice as she left him, and
remembered also that, as matters stood at present, it was essentially
necessary that something should be said. "I suppose I shall have to
go and see that woman," said Lord Chiltern.

"Do you mean Adelaide?" asked Maule, in a tone of infinite surprise.

"I mean this new Duchess, who I'm told is to manage everything
herself. That man Fothergill is going on with just the old game at
Trumpeton."

"Is he, indeed? I was thinking of something else just at that moment.
You remember what you were saying about Miss Palliser last night."

"Yes."

"Well;--I don't think, you know, you had a right to speak as you
did."

Lord Chiltern almost flew at his companion, as he replied, "I said
nothing. I do say that when a man becomes engaged to a girl, he
should let her hear from him, so that they may know what each other
is about."

"You hinted something about being her brother."

"Of course I did. If you mean well by her, as I hope you do, it can't
fret you to think that she has got somebody to look after her till
you come in and take possession. It is the commonest thing in the
world when a girl is left all alone as she is."

"You seemed to make out that I wasn't treating her well."

"I said nothing of the kind, Maule; but if you ask me--"

"I don't ask you anything."

"Yes, you do. You come and find fault with me for speaking last night
in the most good-natured way in the world. And, therefore, I tell you
now that you will be behaving very badly indeed, unless you make some
arrangement at once as to what you mean to do."

"That's your opinion," said Gerard Maule.

"Yes, it is; and you'll find it to be the opinion of any man or woman
that you may ask who knows anything about such things. And I'll tell
you what, Master Maule, if you think you're going to face me down
you'll find yourself mistaken. Stop a moment, and just listen to me.
You haven't a much better friend than I am, and I'm s