Melmotte was very gracious to the young lord.  ’Did you ever hear anything like that, Nidderdale?’ he said, speaking of the priest’s visit.

‘Mad as a hatter,’ said Lord Alfred.

’I don’t know much about his madness.  I shouldn’t wonder if he had been sent by the Archbishop of Westminster.  Why don’t we have an Archbishop of Westminster when they’ve got one?  I shall have to see to that when I’m in the House.  I suppose there is a bishop, isn’t there, Alfred?’ Alfred shook his head.  ’There’s a Dean, I know, for I called on him.  He told me flat he wouldn’t vote for me.  I thought all those parsons were Conservatives.  It...