f course I will excuse you. But what?"

"You are not his sisters."

"If I were engaged to him, to be his wife?--" said Madame Goesler,
standing up. "I am not so. There is nothing of that kind. You must
not misunderstand me. But if I were?"

"On that plea I presume you could be admitted."

"Why not as a friend? Lord Chiltern is admitted as his friend."

"Because of the prudery of a prison," said the Duchess. "All things
are wrong to the lookers after wickedness, my dear. If it would
comfort him to see us, why should he not have that comfort?"

"Would you have gone to him in his own lodgings?" asked Mr. Low.

"I would,--if he'd been ill," said Madame Goesler.

"Madam," said Mr. Low, speaking with a gravity which for a moment had
its effect even upon the Duchess of Omnium, "I think, at any rate,
that if you visit Mr. Finn in prison, you should do so through the
instrumentality of his Grace, your husband."

"Of course you suspect me of all manner of evil."

"I suspect nothing;--but I am sure that it should be so."

"It shall be so," said the Duchess. "Thank you, sir. We are much
obliged to you for your wise counsel."

"I am obliged to you," said Madame Goesler, "because I know that you
have his safety at heart."

"And so am I," said the Duchess, relenting, and giving him her
hand. "We are really ever so much obliged to you. You don't quite
understand about the Duke; and how should you? I never do anything
without telling him, but he hasn't time to attend to things."

"I hope I have not offended you."

"Oh dear, no. You can't offend me unless you mean it. Good-bye,--and
remember to have a great many lawyers, and all with new wigs; and let
them all get in a great rage that anybody should suppose it possible
that Mr. Finn is a murderer. I'm sure I am. Good-bye, Mr. Low."

"You'll never be able to get to him," said the Duchess, as soon as
they were alone.

"I suppose not."

"And what good could you do? Of course I'd go with you if we could
get in;--but what would be the use?"

"To let him know that people do not think him guilty."

"Mr. Low will tell him that. I suppose, too, we can write to him.
Would you mind writing?"

"I would rather go."

"You might as well tell the truth when you are about it. You are
breaking your heart for him."

"If he were to be condemned, and--executed, I should break my heart.
I could never appear bright before the world again."

"That is just what I told Plantagenet.