'The patriotism may remain, my dear, but not the simplicity. I
don't want him to sell his country to Germany, or to turn it into
an American republic in order that he may be president. But when
he gets the reins into his hands, I want him to keep them there.
If he's so much honester than other people, of course he's the
best man for the place. We must make him believe that the very
existence of the country depends on his firmness.'

'To tell you the truth, Lady Glen, I don't think you'll ever make
the Duke believe anything. What he believes, he believes either
from very old habit, or from the working of his own mind.'

'You're always singing his praises, Marie.'

'I don't know that there is any special praise in what I say; but
as far as I can see, it is the man's character.'

'Mr Finn will come in, of course,' said the Duchess.

'Mr Finn will be like the Duke in one thing. He'll take his own
way as to being in or out, quite independent of his wife.'

'You'd like him to be in office?'

'No, indeed! Why should I? He would be more often at the House,
and keep later hours, and be always away all the morning into the
bargain. But I shall like him to do as he likes himself.'

'Fancy thinking of all that, I'd sit up all night every night of