'I dare say not,' said Tifto. 'But she and I have had a day or two
together, for all that.'

'You must have been very much favoured,' said Dolly.

'We've been pals ever since she has been over here,' said Tifto,
with an enormous lie.

'How do you get on with her husband?' asked Dolly,--in the simplest
voice, as though not in the least surprised at his companion's
statement.

'Husband!' exclaimed the Major; who was not possessed of
sufficient presence of mind to suppress all signs of ignorance.

'Ah,' said Dolly; 'you are not probably aware that your pal has
been married to Mr Thomas Jones for the last year and a half.'
Soon after that Major Tifto left the club,--with considerable
enhanced respect for Mr Longstaff.



CHAPTER 7

Conservative Convictions

Lord Silverbridge had engaged himself to be with his father the
next morning at half-past nine, and he entered the breakfast-room
a very few minutes after that hour. He had made up his mind as to
what he would say to his father. He meant to call himself a