"And an especial friend, I suppose. As a matter of course Violet
talks to me about you both."

"No doubt she does. When once a woman is married she should be
regarded as having thrown off her allegiance to her own sex. She is
sure to be treacherous at any rate in one direction. Not that Lady
Chiltern can tell anything of me that might not be told to all the
world as far as I am concerned."

"There is nothing in it, then?"

"Nothing at all."

"Honour bright?"

"Oh,--honour as bright as it ever is in such matters as these."

"I am sorry for that,--very sorry."

"Why so, Lord Chiltern?"

"Because if you were engaged to him I thought that perhaps you might
have induced him to ride a little less forward."

"Lord Chiltern," said Miss Palliser, seriously; "I will never again
speak to you a word on any subject except hunting."

At this moment Gerard Maule came up behind them, with a cigar in his
mouth, apparently quite unconscious of any of that displeasure as