'I would do nothing at any rate till it be noticed in some other paper,' said the private Secretary.'The "People's Banner" is known to be scandalous.'
'Of course, it is scandalous.And, moreover, I know the motives and the malice of the wretched man who is the editor.But the paper is read, and the foul charge if repeated will become known, and the allegation made is true.I did pay the man's election expenses,--and moreover to tell the truth openly as I do not scruple to do to you, I am not prepared to state publicly the reason why I did so.And nothing but that reason could justify me.'
'Then I think your Grace should state it.'
'I cannot do so.'
'The Duke of St Bungay is here.Would it not be well to tell the whole affair to him?'
'I will think of it.I do not know why I should have troubled you.'
'Oh, my lord!'
'Except that there is always some comfort in speaking even of one's trouble.I will think about it.In the meantime you need perhaps not mention it again.'
'Who? I? Oh, certainly not.'
'I did not mean to others,--but to myself.I will turn it in my mind and speak of it when I have decided anything.' And he did think about it, thinking of it so much that he could hardly get the matter out of mind day or night.To his wife he did not allude to it at all.Why trouble her with it? She had caused the evil, and he had cautioned her as to the future.She could not help him out of the difficulty she had created.He continued to turn the matter over in his thoughts till he so magnified it, and built it up into such proportions, that he again began to think that he must resign.It was, he thought, true that a man should not remain in office as Prime Minister who in such a matter could not clear his own conduct.
Then there was a third attack in the "People's Banner", and after that the matter was noticed in the "Evening Pulpit".This notice the Duke of St Bungay saw and mentioned it to Mr Warburton.'Has the Duke spoken to you of some allegations made in the press as to the expenses of the late election at Silverbridge?' The old Duke was at this time, and had been for some months, in a state of nervous anxiety about his friend.He had almost admitted to himself that he had been wrong in recommending a politician so weakly organized to take the office of Prime Minister.He had expected the man to be more manly,--had perhaps expected him to be less conscientiously scrupulous.But now, as the thing had been done, it must be maintained.Who else was there to take the office? Mr Gresham would not.To keep Mr Daubney out was the very essence of the Duke of St Bungay's life,--the turning-point of his political creed, the one grand duty the idea of which was always present to him.And he had, moreover, a most true and affectionate regard for the man whom he now supported, appreciating the sweetness of his character,--believing still in the Minister's patriotism, intelligence, devotion, and honesty;though he was forced to own to himself that the strength of a man's heart was wanting.
'Yes,' said Warburton, 'he did mention it.'
'Does it trouble him?'
'Perhaps you had better speak to him about it.' Both the old Duke and the private Secretary were as fearful and nervous about the Prime Minister as a mother is for a weakly child.They could hardly tell their opinions to each other, but they understood one another, and between them they coddled the Prime Minister.They were specially nervous as to what might be done by the Prime Minister's wife, nervous as to what was done by everyone who came in contact with him.It had been once suggested by the private Secretary that Lady Rosina should be sent for, as she had a soothing effect upon the Prime Minister's spirit.
'Has it irritated him?' asked the Duke.
'Well;--yes, it has,--a little, you know.I think your Grace had better speak to him;--and not perhaps mention my name.' The Duke of St Bungay nodded his head, and said he would speak to the great man and would not mention anyone's name.