and had himself
driven to the corner of Munster Court. It was a little street, gloomy
to look at, with dingy doors and small houses, but with windows
looking into St. James's Park. There was no way through it, so that he
who entered it must either make his way into some house, or come back.
He walked up to the door, and then taking out his watch, saw that it
was half-past six. It was almost too late for calling. And then this
thing that he intended to do required more thought than he had given
it. Would it not be well for him that there should be something holy,
even to him, in spite of that Devil's advocate who had been so powerful
with him. So he turned, and walking slowly back towards Parliament
Street, got into another cab, and was taken to his club. "It has come
out," said Major M'Mickmack to him, immediately on his entrance, "that
when the Dean went to see Brotherton at the hotel, Brotherton called
Lady George all the bad names he could put his tongue to."

"I dare say. He is blackguard enough for anything," said De Baron.

"Then the old Dean took his lordship in his arms, and pitched him bang
into the fireplace. I had it all from the police myself."

"I always liked the Dean."

"They say he is as strong as Hercules," continued M'Mickmack. "But he
is to lose his deanery."

"Gammon!"

"You just ask any of the fellows that know. Fancy a clergyman pitching
a Marquis into the fire!"

"Fancy a father not doing so if the Marquis spoke ill of his daughter,"
said Jack De Baron.

CHAPTER XLIV.

WHAT THE BROTHERTON CLERGYMEN SAID ABOUT IT.

Had Jack knocked at the door and asked for Lady George he certainly
would not have seen her. She was enduring at that moment, with almost
silent obstinacy, the fierce anger of her indignant husband. "She was
sure that it would be bad for her to go to Cross Hall at present, or
anywhere among the Germains, while such things were said of her as the
Marquis had said." Could Lord George have declared that the Marquis was
at war with the family as he had been at war some weeks since, this
argument would have fallen to the ground. But he could not do so, and
it seemed to be admitted that by going to Cross Hall she was to take
part against her father, and so far to take part with the Marquis, who
had maligned her. This became her strong point, and as Lord George was
not strong in argument, he allowed her to make the most of it. "Surely
you wouldn't let me go anywhere," she s