ow what Cabinet Ministers are. If they could get a
majority by granting a pardon they'd do it quick enough."

"You are speaking of a liberal Government, of course, Duchess."

"There isn't twopence to choose between them in that respect. Just
at this moment I believe Mr. Finn is the most popular member of the
House of Commons; and I'd bring all that to bear. You can't but know
that if everything of that kind is done it will have an effect. I
believe you could make him so popular that the people would pull down
the prison rather than have him hung;--so that a jury would not dare
to say he was guilty."

"Would that be justice, ladies?" asked the just man.

"It would be success, Mr. Low,--which is a great deal the better
thing of the two."

"If Mr. Finn were found guilty, I could not in my heart believe that
that would be justice," said Madame Goesler.

Mr. Low did his best to make them understand that the plan of pulling
down Newgate by the instrumentality of Phineas Finn's popularity,
or of buying up the Home Secretary by threats of Parliamentary
defection, would hardly answer their purpose. He would, he assured
them, suggest to the attorneys employed the idea of searching for
evidence against the man Mealyus in his own country, and would
certainly take care that nothing was omitted from want of means. "You
had better let us put a cheque in your hands," said the Duchess. But
to this he would not assent. He did admit that it would be well to
leave no stone unturned, and that the turning of such stones must
cost money;--but the money, he said, would be forthcoming. "He's not
a rich man himself," said the Duchess. Mr. Low assured her that if
money were really wanting he would ask for it. "And now," said the
Duchess, "there is one other thing that we want. Can we see him?"

"You, yourself?"

"Yes;--I myself, and Madame Goesler. You look as if it would be very
wicked." Mr. Low thought that it would be wicked;--that the Duke
would not like it; and that such a visit would occasion ill-natured
remarks. "People do visit him, I suppose. He's not locked up like a
criminal."

"I visit him," said Mr. Low, "and one or two other friends have done
so. Lord Chiltern has been with him, and Mr. Erle."

"Has no lady seen him?" asked the Duchess.

"Not to my knowledge."

"Then it's time some lady should do so. I suppose we could be
admitted. If we were his sisters they'd let us in."

"You must excuse me, Duchess, but--"

"O