George is
engaged to Lady Eustace, nothing, I suppose, can be done to stop the
marriage."

"Why shouldn't she marry if she pleases?" asked Mr. Palliser.

"I've not the slightest objection to her being married. I hope she
will, with all my heart. I certainly think she should have her
husband after buying him at such a price. I suppose Lord Fawn won't
forbid the banns." These last words were only whispered to her next
neighbour, Lord Chiltern; but poor Lord Fawn saw the whisper, and was
aware that it must have had reference to his condition.

On the next morning there came further news. The police had asked
permission from their occupants to search the rooms in which lived
Lady Eustace and Lord George, and in each case the permission had
been refused. So said Barrington Erle in his letter to Lady Glencora.
Lord George had told the applicant, very roughly, that nobody should
touch any article belonging to him without a search-warrant. If any
magistrate would dare to give such a warrant, let him do it. "I'm
told that Lord George acts the indignant madman uncommonly well,"
said Barrington Erle in his letter. As for poor Lizzie, she had
fainted when the proposition was made to her. The request was renewed
as soon as she had been brought to herself; and then she refused,--on
the advice, as she said, of her cousin, Mr. Greystock. Barrington
Erle went on to say that the police were very much blamed. It was
believed that no information could be laid before a magistrate
sufficient to justify a search-warrant;--and, in such circumstances,
no search should have been attempted. Such was the public verdict, as
declared in Barrington Erle's last letter to Lady Glencora.

Mr. Palliser was of opinion that the attempt to search the lady's
house was iniquitous. Mr. Bonteen shook his head, and rather thought
that, if he were Home Secretary, he would have had the search made.
Lady Chiltern said that if policemen came to her, they might search
everything she had in the world. Mrs. Grey reminded them that all
they really knew of the unfortunate woman was, that her jewel-box had
been stolen out of her bedroom at her hotel. Madame Goesler was of
opinion that a lady who could carry such a box about the country with
her deserved to have it stolen. Lord Fawn felt himself obliged to
confess that he agreed altogether with Madame Goesler. Unfortunately,
he had been acquainted with the lady, and now was constrained to say
that her conduct had bee