Phineas found a moment, before he left Lord Brentford’s house, to say a word to Lady Laura as to the commission that had been given to him.  “It can never be,” said Lady Laura, shuddering;—­“never, never, never!”

“You are not angry with me for speaking?”

“Oh, no—­not if he told you.”

“He made me promise that I would.”

“Tell him it cannot be.  Tell him that if he has any instruction to send me as to what he considers to be my duty, I will endeavour to comply, if that duty can be done apart.  I will recognize him so far, because of my vow.  But not even for the sake of my vow, will I endeavour to live with him.  His presence would kill me!”

When Phineas repeated this, or as much of this as he judged to be necessary, to Mr. Kennedy a day or two afterwards, that gentleman replied that in such case he would have no alternative but to seek redress at law.  “I have done nothing to my wife,” said he, “of which I need be ashamed.  It will be sad, no doubt, to have all our affairs bandied about in court, and made the subject of comment in newspapers, but a man must go through that, or worse than that, in the vindication of his rights, and for the performance of his duty to his Maker.”  That very day Mr. Kennedy went to his lawyer, and desired that steps might be taken for the restitution to him of his conjugal rights.

CHAPTER LXIX

The Temptress

Mr. Monk’s bill was read the first time before Easter, and Phineas Finn still held his office.  He had spoken to the Prime Minister once on the subject, and had been surprised at that gentleman’s courtesy;—­for Mr. Gresham had the reputation of being unconciliatory in his manners, and very prone to resent anything like desertion from that allegiance which was due to himself as the leader of his party.  “You had better stay where you are and take no step that may be irretrievable, till you have quite made up your mind,” said Mr. Gresham.

“I fear I have made up my mind,” said Phineas.

“Nothing can be done till after Easter,” replied the great man, “and there is no knowing how things may go then.  I strongly recommend you to stay with us.  If you can do this it will be only necessary that you shall put your resignation in Lord Cantrip’s hands before you speak or vote against us.  See Monk and talk it over with him.”  Mr. Gresham possibly imagined that Mr. Monk might be moved to abandon his bill, when he saw what injury he was about to do.

At this time Phineas received the following letter from his darling Mary:—­

   Floodborough, Thursday.

   DEAREST PHINEAS,