What can any
woman do when a gentleman calls on her in August?"
"I came in July."
"Yes, you did; on the 31st. I keep the most accurate record of all
such things, Mr. Finn. But let us hope that we may have better luck
next year. In the meantime, we can only enjoy the good things that
are going."
"Socially, or politically, Madame Goesler?"
"Oh, socially. How can I mean anything else when the Duke of Omnium
is here? I feel so much taller at being in the same house with him.
Do not you? But you are a spoilt child of fortune, and perhaps you
have met him before."
"I think I once saw the back of a hat in the park, and somebody told
me that the Duke's head was inside it."
"And you have never seen him but that once?"
"Never but that once,--till now."
"And do not you feel elated?"
"Of course I do. For what do you take me, Madame Goesler?"
"I do,--immensely. I believe him to be a fool, and I never heard of
his doing a kind act to anybody in my life."
"Not when he gave the racehorse to Lady Glencora?"
"I wonder whether that was true. Did you ever hear of such an
absurdity? As I was saying, I don't think he ever did anything
for anybody;--but then, you know, to be Duke of Omnium! It isn't
necessary,--is it,--that a Duke of Omnium should do anything except
be Duke of Omnium?"
At this moment Lady Glencora came up to Phineas, and took him across
to the Duke.
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