Bonebreaker back again in the stable for you. That poor fool
who bought him could do nothing with him, and I let him have his
money back."

"I don't see why you should have done that."

"Because I was the biggest fool of the two. Do you remember when that
brute got me down under the bank in the river? That was about the
nearest touch I ever had. Lord bless me;--how he did squeeze me! So
here you are;--staying with the Pallisers,--one of a Government party
I suppose. But what are you going to do for a seat, my friend?"

"Don't talk about that yet, Chiltern."

"A sore subject,--isn't it? I think they have been quite right, you
know, to put Loughton into the melting-pot,--though I'm sorry enough
for your sake."

"Quite right," said Phineas.

"And yet you voted against it, old chap? But, come; I'm not going to
be down upon you. So my father has been here?"

"Yes;--he was here for a day or two."

"Violet has just been telling me. You and he are as good friends as
ever?"

"I trust we are."

"He never heard of that little affair?" And Lord Chiltern nodded his
head, intending to indicate the direction of Blankenberg.

"I do not think he has yet."

"So Violet tells me. Of course you know that she has heard all about
it."

"I have reason to suppose as much."

"And so does Laura."

"I told her myself," said Phineas.

"The deuce you did! But I daresay it was for the best. It's a pity
you had not proclaimed it at Charing Cross, and then nobody would
have believed a word about it. Of course my father will hear it some
day."

"You are going to Saulsby, I hope, Chiltern?"

"That question is easier asked than answered. It is quite true that
the great difficulty has been got over. Laura has had her money. And
if my father will only acknowledge that he has wronged me throughout,
from beginning to end, I will go to Saulsby to-morrow;--and would cut
you out at Loughton the next day, only that Loughton is not Loughton
any longer."

"You cannot expect your father to do that."

"No;--and therefore there is a difficulty. So you've had that awfully
ponderous Duke here. How did you get on with him?"

"Admirably. He condescended to do something which he called shaking
hands with me."

"He is the greatest old dust out," said Lord Chiltern,
disrespectfully. "Did he take any notice of Violet?"

"Not that I observed."

"He ought not to be allowed into the same room with her." After that
there was a short pause, and