To put the man down had of course been an easy task to the Duke, but he was not satisfied with that.To the Major it seemed that the Duke had passed on with easy indifference,--but, in truth, he was very far from being easy.The man's insolent request had wounded him at many points.It was grievous to him that he should have as a guest in his own house a man whom he had been forced to insult.It was grievous to him that he himself should not have been held in personal respect high enough to protect him from such an insult.It was grievous to him that he should be openly addressed,--addressed by an absolute stranger,--as a boroughmongering lord, who would not scruple to give away a seat in Parliament as seats were given away in former days.And it was specially grievous to him that all these misfortunes should have come upon him as part of the results of his wife's manner of exercising his hospitality.If this was to be the Prime Minister he certainly would not be Prime Minister much longer! Had any aspirant to political life dared so to address Lord Brock, or Lord de Terrier, or Mr Mildmay, the old Premiers whom he remembered? He thought not.They had managed differently.They had been able to defend themselves from such attacks by personal dignity.And would it have been possible that any man should have dared so to speak to his uncle, the late Duke? He thought not.As he shut himself up in his own room he grieved inwardly with a deep grief.After a while he walked off to his wife's room, still perturbed in spirit.The perturbation had indeed increased from minute to minute.He would rather give up politics altogether and shut himself up in absolute seclusion than find himself subject to the insolence of any Pountney that might address him.With his wife he found Mrs Finn.Now for this lady personally he entertained what for him was a warm regard.In various matters of much importance he and she had been brought together, and she had, to his thinking, invariably behaved well.And an intimacy had been established which had enabled him to be at ease with her,--so that her presence was often a comfort to him.But at the present moment he had not wished to find anyone with his wife, and felt that she was in his way.'Perhaps I am disturbing you,' he said in a tone of voice that was solemn and almost funereal.
'Not at all,' said the Duchess, who was in high spirits.'I want to get your promise about Silverbridge.Don't mind her.Of course she knows everything.' To be told that anybody knew everything was another shock to him.'I have just got a letter from Mr Lopez.' Could it be right that his wife should be corresponding on such a subject with a person so little known as this Mr Lopez? 'May I tell him that he shall have your interest when the seat is vacant?'
'Certainly not,' said the Duke, with a scowl that was terrible even to his wife.'I wish to speak to you, but I wish to speak to you alone.'
'I beg a thousand pardons,' said Mrs Finn, preparing to go.
'Don't stir, Marie,' said the Duchess, 'he is going to be cross.'
'If Mrs Finn will allow me, with every feeling of the most perfect respect and sincerest regard, to ask her to leave me with you for a few minutes, I shall be obliged.And if, with her usual hearty kindness, she will pardon my abruptness--' Then he could not go on, his emotions being too great; but he put out his hand, and taking hers raised it to his lips and kissed it.The moment had become too solemn for any further hesitation as to the lady's going.The Duchess for a moment was struck dumb, and Mrs Finn, of course, left the room.
'Who is Major Pountney?'
'Who is Major Pountney! How on earth should I know? He is--Major Pountney.He is about everywhere.'
'Do not let him be asked into any house of mine again.But that is a trifle.'
'Anything about Major Pountney must, I should think, be a trifle.
Have tidings come that the heavens are going to fall? Nothing short of that could make you so solemn.'
'In the first place, Glencora, let me ask you not to speak to me again about the seat for Silverbridge.I am not at present prepared to argue the matter with you, but I have resolved that, I will know nothing about the election.As soon as the seat is vacant, if it should be vacated, I shall take care that my determination be known in Silverbridge.'
'Why should you abandon your privileges in that way? It is sheer weakness.'
'The interference of any peer is unconstitutional.'
'There is Braxon,' said the Duchess energetically, 'where the Marquis of Crumber returns the member regularly, in spirt of all their Reform bills, and Bamford and Cobblesborough;--and look at Lord Lumley with a whole county in his pocket, not to speak of two boroughs! What nonsense, Plantagenet! Anything is constitutional, or anything is unconstitutional, just as you choose to look at it.' It was clear that the Duchess had really studied the subject carefully.
'Very well, my dear, let it be nonsense.I only beg to assure you that it is my intention, and I request you to act accordingly.And there is another thing I have to say to you.Ishall be sorry to interfere in any way with the pleasure which you may derive from society, but as long as I am burdened with the office which has been imposed upon me, I will not again entertain any guests in my own house.'
'Plantagenet!'
'You cannot turn the people out who are here now; but I beg that they may be allowed to go when the time comes, and that their place may not be filled by further invitations.'
'But further invitations have gone out ever so long ago, and have been accepted.You must be ill, dear.'
'Ill at ease,--yes.At any rate let none others be sent out.
Then he remembered a kindly purpose, which he had formed early in the day, and fell back on that.'I should, however, be glad if you would ask Lady Rosina De Courcy to remain here.' The Duchess stared at him, really thinking now that something was amiss with him.'The whole thing is a failure and I will have no more of it.It is degrading me.' Then without allowing her a moment in which to answer him, he marched back to his own room.
But even here his spirit was not as yet at rest.That Major must not go unpunished.Though he hated all fuss and noise he must do something.So he wrote as follows to the Major:
The Duke of Omnium trusts that Major Pountney will not find it inconvenient to leave Gatherum Castle shortly.
Should Major Pountney wish to remain at the Castle over the night, the Duke of Omnium hopes that he will not object to be served with his dinner and with his breakfast in his own room.A carriage with horses will be ready for Major Pountney's use, to take him to Silverbridge, as soon as Major Pountney may express to the servants his wish to that effect.
Gatherum Castle,--December, 18--
This note the Duke sent by the hands of his own servant, having said enough to the man as to the carriage and the possible dinner in the Major's bedroom, to make the man understand almost exactly what had occurred.A note from the Major was brought to the Duke while he was dressing.The Duke having glanced at the note threw it into the fire; and the Major that evening ate his dinner at the Palliser's Arms Inn at Silverbridge.
