"Nay; I have thought of it much."

"And your friends?"

"My dear, I may venture to please myself in this,--as in everything.
Will you not answer me?"

"Certainly not on the spur of the moment, my lord. Think how high is
the position you offer me, and how immense is the change you propose
to me. Allow me two days, and I will answer you by letter. I am so
fluttered now that I must leave you." Then he came to her, took her
hand, kissed her brow, and opened the door for her.

CHAPTER LXI

Another Duel

It happened that there were at this time certain matters of business
to be settled between the Duke of Omnium and his nephew Mr. Palliser,
respecting which the latter called upon his uncle on the morning
after the Duke had committed himself by his offer. Mr. Palliser had
come by appointment made with Mr. Fothergill, the Duke's man of
business, and had expected to meet Mr. Fothergill. Mr. Fothergill,
however, was not with the Duke, and the uncle told the nephew that
the business had been postponed. Then Mr. Palliser asked some
question as to the reason of such postponement, not meaning much by
his question,--and the Duke, after a moment's hesitation, answered
him, meaning very much by his answer. "The truth is, Plantagenet,
that it is possible that I may marry, and if so this arrangement
would not suit me."

"Are you going to be married?" asked the astonished nephew.

"It is not exactly that,--but it is possible that I may do so. Since
I proposed this matter to Fothergill, I have been thinking over it,
and I have changed my mind. It will make but little difference to
you; and after all you are a far richer man than I am."

"I am not thinking of money, Duke," said Plantagenet Palliser.

"Of what then were you thinking?"

"Simply of what you told me. I do not in the least mean to
interfere."

"I hope not, Plantagenet."

"But I could not hear such a statement from you without some
surprise. Whatever you do I hope will tend to make you happy."

So much passed between the uncle and the nephew, and what the uncle
told to the nephew, the nephew of course told to his wife. "He was
with her again, yesterday," said Lady Glencora, "for more than an
hour. And he had been half the morning dressing himself before he
went to her."

"He is not engaged to her, or he would have told me," said
Plantagenet Palliser.

"I think he would, but there is no knowing. At the present moment I
have only one doubt,--whether to