daughter's lover, and not his daughter's
husband. All which things together filled the public with dismay, and
caused a delightful excitement, giving quite a feature of its own to
the season.

No doubt general opinion was adverse to poor Phineas Finn, but he was
not without his party in the matter. To oblige a friend by inflicting
an injury on his enemy is often more easy than to confer a benefit on
the friend himself. We have already seen how the young Duchess failed
in her attempt to obtain an appointment for Phineas, and also how
she succeeded in destroying the high hopes of Mr. Bonteen. Having
done so much, of course she clung heartily to the side which she
had adopted;--and, equally of course, Madame Goesler did the same.
Between these two ladies there was a slight difference of opinion as
to the nature of the alliance between Lady Laura and their hero. The
Duchess was of opinion that young men are upon the whole averse to
innocent alliances, and that, as Lady Laura and her husband certainly
had long been separated, there was probably--something in it. "Lord
bless you, my dear," the Duchess said, "they were known to be
lovers when they were at Loughlinter together before she married Mr.
Kennedy. It has been the most romantic affair! She made her father
give him a seat for his borough."

"He saved Mr. Kennedy's life," said Madame Goesler.

"That was one of the most singular things that ever happened.
Laurence Fitzgibbon says that it was all planned,--that the garotters
were hired, but unfortunately two policemen turned up at the moment,
so the men were taken. I believe there is no doubt they were pardoned
by Sir Henry Coldfoot, who was at the Home Office, and was Lord
Brentford's great friend. I don't quite believe it all,--it would be
too delicious; but a great many do." Madame Goesler, however, was
strong in her opinion that the report in reference to Lady Laura was
scandalous. She did not believe a word of it, and was almost angry
with the Duchess for her credulity.

It is probable that very many ladies shared the opinion of the
Duchess; but not the less on that account did they take part with
Phineas Finn. They could not understand why he should be shut out
of office because a lady had been in love with him, and by no means
seemed to approve the stern virtue of the Prime Minister. It was
an interference with things which did not belong to him. And many
asserted that Mr. Gresham was much given to such inter