reference to Violet Effingham, there came upon Madame Goesler a strong wish to decide at once that she would play no longer with the coronet, that the gem was not worth the cost she would be called upon to pay for it.  There was something in the world better for her than the coronet,—­if only it might be had.  But within ten minutes he had told her the whole tale about Lord Chiltern, and how he had seen Violet at Lady Baldock’s,—­and how there might yet be hope for him.  What would she advise him to do?  “Go home, Mr. Finn,” she said, “and write a sonnet to her eyebrow.  See if that will have any effect.”

“Ah, well!  It is natural that you should laugh at me; but somehow, I did not expect it from you.”

“Do not be angry with me.  What I mean is that such little things seem to influence this Violet of yours.”

“Do they?  I have not found that they do so.”

“If she had loved Lord Chiltern she would not have quarrelled with him for a few words.  If she had loved you, she would not have accepted Lord Chiltern.  If she loves neither of you, she should say so.  I am losing my respect for her.”

“Do not say that, Madame Goesler.  I respect her as strongly as I love her.”  Then Madame Goesler almost made up her mind that she would have the coronet.  There was a substance about the coronet that would not elude her grasp.

Late that afternoon, while she was still hesitating, there came another caller to the cottage in Park Lane.  She was still hesitating, feeling that she had as yet another night before her.  Should she be Duchess of Omnium or not?  All that she wished to be, she could not be;—­but to be Duchess of Omnium was within her reach.  Then she began to ask herself various questions.  Would the Queen refuse to accept her in her new rank?  Refuse!  How could any Queen refuse to accept her?  She had not done aught amiss in life.  There was no slur on her name; no stain on her character.  What though her father had been a small attorney, and her first husband a Jew banker!  She had broken no law of God or man, had been accused of breaking no law, which breaking or which accusation need stand in the way of her being as good a duchess as any other woman!  She was sitting thinking of this, almost angry with herself at the awe with which the proposed rank inspired her, when Lady Glencora was announced to her.

“Madame Goesler,” said Lady Glencora, “I am very glad to find you.”

“And I more than equally so, to be found,” said Madame Goesler, smiling with all her grace.

“My uncle has been with you since I saw you last?”

“Oh yes;—­more than once if I remember right.  He was here yesterday at any rate.”

“He comes often to you then?”

“Not so often as I would wish, Lady Glencora.  The Duke is one of my dearest friends.”

“It has been a quick friendship.”