"It began there, did it? No, not to the 'People's Banner,' but to the 'Evening Pulpit.' He could say, you know, that the money was paid by you, and that the payment had been made because your agents had misapprehended your instructions."
"It would not be true," said the Prime Minister, slowly.
"As far as I can understand that was what occurred," said the other Duke.
"My instructions were not misapprehended. They were disobeyed. I think that perhaps we had better say no more about it."
"Do not think that I wish to press you," said the old man, tenderly; "but I fear that something ought to be done;—I mean for your own comfort."
"My comfort!" said the Prime Minister. "That has vanished long ago;—and my peace of mind, and my happiness."
"There has been nothing done which cannot be explained with perfect truth. There has been no impropriety."
"I do not know."
"The money was paid simply from an over-nice sense of honour."
"It cannot be explained. I cannot explain it even to you, and how then can I do it to all the gaping fools of the country who are ready to trample upon a man simply because he is in some way conspicuous among them?"