The ministers generally would have been indifferent to the very hard words that were said of them, knowing what they were worth, and feeling aware that a ministry18 which had everything too easy must lose its interest in the country, had it not been that their chief was very sore on the subject. The old Duke's work at this time consisted almost altogether in nursing the younger Duke. It did sometimes occur to his elder Grace that it might be well to let his brother retire, and that a Prime Minister, malgré lui, could not be a successful Prime Minister, or a useful one. But if the Duke of Omnium went the Coalition must go too, and the Coalition had been the offspring of the old statesman. The country was thriving under the Coalition, and there was no real reason why it should not last for the next ten years. He continued, therefore, his system of coddling, and was ready at any moment, or at every moment, to pour, if not comfort, at any rate consolation19 into the ears of his unhappy friend. In the present emergency, it was the falsehood and general baseness of Sir Orlando which nearly broke the heart of the Prime Minister. "How is one to live," he said, "if one has to do with men of that kind?"
"But you haven't to do with him any longer," said the Duke of St. Bungay.
"When I see a man who is supposed to have earned the name of a statesman, and been high in the councils of his sovereign, induced by personal jealousy20 to do as he is doing, it makes me feel that an honest man should not place himself where he may have to deal with such persons."
"According to that the honest men are to desert their country in order that the dishonest men may have everything their own way." Our Duke could not answer this, and therefore for the moment he yielded. But he was unhappy, saturnine21, and generally silent except when closeted with his ancient mentor22. And he knew that he was saturnine and silent, and that it behoved him as a leader of men to be genial23 and communicative,—listening to counsel even if he did not follow it, and at any rate appearing to have confidence in his colleagues.
During this time Mr. Slide was not inactive, and in his heart of hearts the Prime Minister was more afraid of Mr. Slide's attacks than of those made upon him by Sir Orlando Drought. Now that Parliament was sitting, and the minds of men were stirred to political feeling by the renewed energy of the House, a great deal was being said in many quarters about the last Silverbridge election. The papers had taken the matter up generally, some accusing the Prime Minister and some defending. But the defence was almost as unpalatable to him as the accusation24. It was admitted on all sides that the Duke, both as a peer and as a Prime Minister, should have abstained25 from any interference whatever in the election. And it was also admitted on all sides that he had not so abstained,—if there was any truth at all in the allegation that he had paid money for Mr. Lopez. But it was pleaded on his behalf that the Dukes of Omnium had always interfered26 at Silverbridge, and that no Reform Bill had ever had any effect in reducing their influence in that borough27. Frequent allusion28 was made to the cautious Dod who, year after year, had reported that the Duke of Omnium exercised considerable influence in the borough. And then the friendly newspapers went on to explain that the Duke had in this instance stayed his hand, and that the money, if paid at all, had been paid because the candidate who was to have been his nominee29 had been thrown over, when the Duke at the last moment made up his mind that he would abandon the privilege which had hitherto been always exercised by the head of his family, and which had been exercised more than once or twice in his own favour. But Mr. Slide, day after day, repeated his question, "We want to know whether the Prime Minister did or did not pay the election expenses of Mr. Lopez at the last Silverbridge election, and if so, why he paid them. We shall continue to ask this question till it has been answered, and when asking it we again say that the actual correspondence on the subject between the Duke and Mr. Lopez is in our own hands." And then, after a while, allusions30 were made to the Duchess;—for Mr. Slide had learned all the facts of the case from Lopez himself. When Mr. Slide found how hard it was "to draw his badger," as he expressed himself concerning his own operations, he at last openly alluded31 to the Duchess, running the risk of any punishment that might fall upon him by action for libel or by severe reprehension32 from his colleagues of the Press. "We have as yet," he said, "received no answers to the questions which we have felt ourselves called upon to ask in reference to the conduct of the Prime Minister at the Silverbridge election. We are of opinion that all interference by peers with the constituencies of the country should be put down by the strong hand of the law as thoroughly33 and unmercifully as we are putting down ordinary bribery34. But when the offending peer is also the Prime Minister of this great country, it becomes doubly the duty of those who watch over the public safety,"—Mr. Slide was always speaking of himself as watching over the public safety,—"to animadvert upon his crime till it has been assoiled, or at any rate repented35. From what we now hear we have reason to believe that the crime itself is acknowledged. Had the payment on behalf of Mr. Lopez not been made,—as it certainly was made, or the letters in our hand would be impudent36 forgeries,—the charge would long since have been denied. Silence in such a matter amounts to confession37. But we understand that the Duke intends to escape under the plea that he has a second self, powerful as he is to exercise the baneful38 influence which his territorial39 wealth unfortunately gives him, but for the actions of which second self he, as a Peer of Parliament and as Prime Minister, is not responsible. In other words we are informed that the privilege belonging to the Palliser family at Silverbridge was exercised, not by the Duke himself, but by the Duchess;—and that the Duke paid the money when he found that the Duchess had promised more than she could perform. We should hardly have thought that even a man so notoriously weak as the Duke of Omnium would have endeavoured to ride out of responsibility by throwing the blame upon his wife; but he will certainly find that the attempt, if made, will fail.
"Against the Duchess herself we wish to say not a word. She is known as exercising a wide if not a discriminate40 hospitality. We believe her to be a kind-hearted, bustling41, ambitious lady, to whom any little faults may easily be forgiven on account of her good-nature and generosity42. But we cannot accept her indiscretion as an excuse for a most unconstitutional act performed by the Prime Minister of this country."
Latterly the Duchess had taken in her own copy of the "People's Banner." Since she had found that those around her were endeavouring to keep from her what was being said of her husband in regard to the borough, she had been determined43 to see it all. She therefore read the article from which two or three paragraphs have just been given,—and having read it she handed it to her friend Mrs. Finn. "I wonder that you trouble yourself with such trash," her friend said to her.
"That is all very well, my dear, from you; but we poor wretches44 who are the slaves of the people have to regard what is said of us in the 'People's Banner.'"
"It would be much better for you to neglect it."
"Just as authors are told not to read the criticisms;—but I never would believe any author who told me that he didn't read what was said about him. I wonder when the man found out that I was good-natured. He wouldn't find me good-natured if I could get hold of him."
"You are not going to allow it to torment46 you!"
"For my own sake, not a moment. I fancy that if I might be permitted to have my own way I could answer him very easily. Indeed with these dregs of the newspapers, these gutter-slanderers, if one would be open and say all the truth aloud, what would one have to fear? After all, what is it that I did? I disobeyed my husband because I thought that he was too scrupulous47. Let me say as much, out loud to the public,—saying also that I am sorry for it, as I am,—and who would be against me? Who would have a word to say after that? I should be the most popular woman in England for a month,—and, as regards Plantagenet, Mr. Slide and his articles would all sink into silence. But even though he were to continue this from day to day for a twelvemonth it would not hurt me,—but that I know how it scorches48 him. This mention of my name will make it more intolerable to him than ever. I doubt that you know him even yet."
"I thought that I did."
"Though in manner he is as dry as a stick, though all his pursuits are opposite to the very idea of romance, though he passes his days and nights in thinking how he may take a halfpenny in the pound off the taxes of the people without robbing the revenue, there is a dash of chivalry49 about him worthy50 of the old poets. To him a woman, particularly his own woman, is a thing so fine and so precious that the winds of heaven should hardly be allowed to blow upon her. He cannot bear to think that people should even talk of his wife. And yet, Heaven knows, poor fellow, I have given people occasion enough to talk of me. And he has a much higher chivalry than that of the old poets. They, or their heroes, watched their women because they did not want to have trouble about them,—shut them up in castles, kept them in ignorance, and held them as far as they could out of harm's way."
"I hardly think they succeeded," said Mrs. Finn.
"But in pure selfishness they tried all they could. But he is too proud to watch. If you and I were hatching treason against him in the dark, and chance had brought him there, he would stop his ears with his fingers. He is all trust, even when he knows that he is being deceived. He is honour complete from head to foot. Ah, it was before you knew me when I tried him the hardest. I never could quite tell you that story, and I won't try it now; but he behaved like a god. I could never tell him what I felt,—but I felt it."
"You ought to love him."
"I do;—but what's the use of it? He is a god, but I am not a goddess;—and then, though he is a god, he is a dry, silent, uncongenial and uncomfortable god. It would have suited me much better to have married a sinner. But then the sinner that I would have married was so irredeemable a scapegrace."
"I do not believe in a woman marrying a bad man in the hope of making him good."
"Especially not when the woman is naturally inclined to evil herself. It will half kill him when he reads all this about me. He has read it already, and it has already half killed him. For myself I do not mind it in the least, but for his sake I mind it much. It will rob him of his only possible answer to the accusation. The very thing which this wretch45 in the newspaper says he will say, and that he will be disgraced by saying, is the very thing that he ought to say. And there would be no disgrace in it,—beyond what I might well bear for my little fault, and which I could bear so easily."
"Shall you speak to him about it?"
"No; I dare not. In this matter it has gone beyond speaking. I suppose he does talk it over with the old Duke; but he will say nothing to me about it,—unless he were to tell me that he had resigned, and that we were to start off and live in Minorca for the next ten years. I was so proud when they made him Prime Minister; but I think that I am beginning to regret it now." Then there was a pause, and the Duchess went on with her newspapers; but she soon resumed her discourse51. Her heart was full, and out of a full heart the mouth speaks. "They should have made me Prime Minister, and have let him be Chancellor52 of the Exchequer53. I begin to see the ways of Government now. I could have done all the dirty work. I could have given away garters and ribbons, and made my bargains while giving them. I could select sleek54, easy bishops55 who wouldn't be troublesome. I could give pensions or withhold56 them, and make the stupid men peers. I could have the big noblemen at my feet, praying to be Lieutenants57 of Counties. I could dole58 out secretaryships and lordships, and never a one without getting something in return. I could brazen59 out a job and let the 'People's Banners' and the Slides make their worst of it. And I think I could make myself popular with my party, and do the high-flowing patriotic talk for the benefit of the Provinces. A man at a regular office has to work. That's what Plantagenet is fit for. He wants always to be doing something that shall be really useful, and a man has to toil60 at that and really to know things. But a Prime Minister should never go beyond generalities about commerce, agriculture, peace, and general philanthropy. Of course he should have the gift of the gab61, and that Plantagenet hasn't got. He never wants to say anything unless he has got something to say. I could do a Mansion62 House dinner to a marvel63!"
"I don't doubt that you could speak at all times, Lady Glen."
"Oh, I do so wish that I had the opportunity," said the Duchess.
Of course the Duke had read the article in the privacy of his own room, and of course the article had nearly maddened him with anger and grief. As the Duchess had said, the article had taken from him the very ground on which his friends had told him that he could stand. He had never consented, and never would consent, to lay the blame publicly on his wife; but he had begun to think that he must take notice of the charge made against him, and deputize some one to explain for him in the House of Commons that the injury had been done at Silverbridge by the indiscretion of an agent who had not fulfilled his employer's intentions, and that the Duke had thought it right afterwards to pay the money in consequence of this indiscretion. He had not agreed to this, but he had brought himself to think that he must agree to it. But now, of course, the question would follow:—Who was the indiscreet agent? Was the Duchess the person for whose indiscretion he had had to pay ￡500 to Mr. Lopez? And in this matter did he not find himself in accord even with Mr. Slide? "We should hardly have thought that even a man so notoriously weak as the Duke of Omnium would have endeavoured to ride out of responsibility by throwing the blame upon his wife." He read and reread these words till he knew them by heart. For a few moments it seemed to him to be an evil in the Constitution that the Prime Minister should not have the power of instantly crucifying so foul64 a slanderer;—and yet it was the very truth of the words that crushed him. He was weak,—he told himself;—notoriously weak, it must be; and it would be most mean in him to ride out of responsibility by throwing blame upon his wife. But what else was he to do? There seemed to him to be but one course,—to get up in the House of Lords and declare that he paid the money because he had thought it right to do so under circumstances which he could not explain, and to declare that it was not his intention to say another word on the subject, or to have another word said on his behalf.
There was a Cabinet Council held that day, but no one ventured to speak to the Prime Minister as to the accusation. Though he considered himself to be weak, his colleagues were all more or less afraid of him. There was a certain silent dignity about the man which saved him from the evils, as it also debarred him from the advantages, of familiarity. He had spoken on the subject to Mr. Monk and to Phineas Finn, and, as the reader knows, very often to his old mentor. He had also mentioned it to his friend Lord Cantrip, who was not in the Cabinet. Coming away from the Cabinet he took Mr. Monk's arm, and led him away to his own room in the Treasury65 Chambers66. "Have you happened to see an article in the 'People's Banner' this morning?" he asked.
"I never see the 'People's Banner,'" said Mr. Monk.
"There it is;—just look at that." Whereupon Mr. Monk read the article. "You understand what people call constitutional practice as well as any one I know. As I told you before, I did pay that man's expenses. Did I do anything unconstitutional?"
"That would depend, Duke, upon the circumstances. If you were to back a man up by your wealth in an expensive contest, I think it would be unconstitutional. If you set yourself to work in that way, and cared not what you spent, you might materially influence the elections, and buy parliamentary support for yourself."
"But in this case the payment was made after the man had failed, and certainly had not been promised either by me or by any one on my behalf."
"I think it was unfortunate," said Mr. Monk.
"Certainly, certainly; but I am not asking as to that," said the Duke impatiently. "The man had been injured by indiscreet persons acting67 on my behalf and in opposition to my wishes." He said not a word about the Duchess; but Mr. Monk no doubt knew that her Grace had been at any rate one of the indiscreet persons. "He applied68 to me for the money, alleging69 that he had been injured by my agents. That being so,—presuming that my story be correct,—did I act unconstitutionally?"
"I think not," said Mr. Monk, "and I think that the circumstances, when explained, will bear you harmless."
"Thank you; thank you. I did not want to trouble you about that just at present."
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1
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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imputed
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| v.把（错误等）归咎于( impute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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coalition
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| n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合 | |
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grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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seducer
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| n.诱惑者,骗子,玩弄女性的人 | |
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radicals
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| n.激进分子( radical的名词复数 )；根基；基本原理；[数学]根数 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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monk
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| n.和尚，僧侣，修道士 | |
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12
variance
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| n.矛盾，不同 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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14
devastate
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| v.使荒芜，破坏，压倒 | |
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15
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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16
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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17
wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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saturnine
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| adj.忧郁的，沉默寡言的，阴沉的，感染铅毒的 | |
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mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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abstained
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| v.戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的过去式和过去分词 )；弃权（不投票） | |
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interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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borough
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| n.享有自治权的市镇；(英)自治市镇 | |
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allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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nominee
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| n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者 | |
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allusions
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| 暗指，间接提到( allusion的名词复数 ) | |
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alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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reprehension
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| n.非难，指责 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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bribery
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| n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿 | |
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repented
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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baneful
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| adj.有害的 | |
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territorial
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| adj.领土的，领地的 | |
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discriminate
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| v.区别，辨别，区分；有区别地对待 | |
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bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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scrupulous
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| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
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scorches
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| 烧焦，烤焦( scorch的第三人称单数 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶 | |
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49
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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50
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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52
chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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53
exchequer
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| n.财政部；国库 | |
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54
sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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55
bishops
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| （基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象 | |
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56
withhold
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| v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡 | |
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lieutenants
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| n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
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dole
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| n.救济，（失业）救济金；vt.（out）发放，发给 | |
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59
brazen
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| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
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60
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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61
gab
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| v.空谈，唠叨，瞎扯；n.饶舌，多嘴，爱说话 | |
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62
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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63
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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65
treasury
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| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
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66
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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67
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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68
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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69
alleging
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| 断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 ) | |
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