ness of
either party; but as Lady Eustace thinks otherwise, he
feels himself constrained to comply with her desire.

Sunday evening, 25 February, 18--.

"I am going to see her in the course of this week," he said, in
answer to a further question from Lady Glencora, who, chancing to
meet him in society, had again addressed him on the subject. He
lacked the courage to tell Lady Glencora to mind her own business and
to allow him to do the same. Had she been a little less great than
she was,--either as regarded herself or her husband,--he would have
done so. But Lady Glencora was the social queen of the party to which
he belonged, and Mr. Palliser was Chancellor of the Exchequer, and
would some day be Duke of Omnium.

"As you are great, be merciful, Lord Fawn," said Lady Glencora. "You
men, I believe, never realise what it is that women feel when they
love. It is my belief that she will die unless you are re-united to
her. And then she is so beautiful!"

"It is a subject that I cannot discuss, Lady Glencora."

"I daresay not. And I'm sure I am the last person to wish to give you
pain. But you see,--if the poor lady has done nothing to merit your
anger, it does seem rather a strong measure to throw her off and
give her no reason whatever. How would you defend yourself, suppose
she published it all?" Lady Glencora's courage was very great,--and
perhaps we may say her impudence also. This last question Lord Fawn
left unanswered, walking away in great dudgeon.

In the course of the week he told his sister of the interview which
he had promised, and she endeavoured to induce him to postpone it
till a certain man should arrive from Scotland. She had written for
Mr. Andrew Gowran,--sending down funds for Mr. Gowran's journey,--so
that her brother might hear Mr. Gowran's evidence out of Mr.
Gowran's own mouth. Would not Frederic postpone the interview
till he should have seen Mr. Gowran? But to this request Frederic
declined to accede. He had fixed a day and an hour. He had made an
appointment;--of course he must keep it.

CHAPTER LVII

Humpty Dumpty

The robbery at the house in Hertford Street took place on the 30th of
January, and on the morning of the 28th of February Bunfit and Gager
were sitting together in a melancholy, dark little room in Scotland
Yard, discussing the circumstances of that nefarious act. A month had
gone by, and nobody was yet in custody. A month had passed since that
second r