fashion that had never yet been known even among the nobility of
England. Both in town and country those great mansions should be
kept open which were now rarely much used because she found them
dull, cold, and comfortless. In London there should not be a
member of Parliament whom she would not herself know and
influence by her flattery and grace,--or if there were men whom
she could not influence, they should live as men tabooed and
unfortunate. Money mattered nothing. Their income was enormous,
and for a series of years,--for half a dozen years if the game
could be kept up so long,--they could spend treble what they
called their income without real injury to their children.
Visions passed through her brain of wondrous things which might
be done,--if only her husband would be true to his own
greatness.

The Duke had left her at about two. She did not stir out of the
house that day, but in the course of the afternoon she wrote a
line to a friend who lived not very far from her. The Duchess
dwelt in Carlton Terrace, and her friend in Park Lane. The note
was as follows:

DEAR M,
Come to me at once. I am too
excited to go to you. Yours G

This was addressed to one Mrs Finn, a lady as to whom chronicles
have been written, and who has been known to the readers of such
chronicles as a friend dearly loved by the Duchess. As quickly
as she could put on her carriage garments and get herself to
Carlton Terrace, Mrs Finn was there. 'Well, my dear, how do you