'It is out of the question. There must be an end of this
altogether. You must neither see her, nor hear from her, no in any
way communicate with her. It is altogether impossible. I believe,
sir, that you have no means?'

'Very little at present, Duke.'

'How did you think you were to live? But it is altogether
unnecessary to speak of such a matter as that. There are so many
reasons to make this impossible, that it would be useless to
discuss one as being more important than the others. Has any other
one of my family known of this?' This he added, wishing to
ascertain whether Lord Silverbridge had disgraced himself by
lending his hand to such a disposition of his sister.

'Oh, yes,' said Tregear.

'Who has known it?'

'The Duchess, sir. We had all her sympathy and approval.'

'I do not believe a word of it,' said the Duke, becoming extremely
red in the face. He was forced to do now that which he had just
declared that he had never done in his life,--driven by the desire
of his heart to acquit the wife he had lost of the terrible
imprudence, worse than imprudence, of which she was now accused.

'That is the second time, my Lord, that you have found it
necessary to tell me that you have not believed direct assertions
which I made to you. But, luckily for me, the two assertions are