’Because I think you are making a fool of her, and because I am honest.  That’s why,’ said Dolly with much energy.  There was something in this which partly reconciled Silverbridge to his despised rival.  There was a touch of truth about the man, though he was so utterly mistaken in his ideas.  ’I want you to give over in order that I may try again.  I don’t think you ought to keep a girl from her promotion, merely for the fun of a flirtation.  Perhaps you’re fond of her;—­but you won’t marry her.  I am fond of her, and I shall.’

After a minute’s pause, Silverbridge resolved that he would be magnanimous.  ‘Miss Boncassen is going to be my wife,’ he said.

‘Your wife!’

’Yes;—­my wife.  And now I think you will see that nothing further can be said about this matter.’

‘Duchess of Omnium!’

‘She will be Lady Silverbridge.’

’Oh; of course she’ll be that first.  Then I’ve got nothing further to say.  I’m not going to enter myself to run against you.  Only I shouldn’t have believed it if anybody else had told me.’

‘Such is my good fortune.’

’Oh ah,—­yes; of course.  That is one way of looking at it.  Well, Silverbridge.  I’ll tell you what I shall do; I shall hook it.’

‘No; not you.’

’Yes, I shall.  I daresay you won’t believe me, but I’ve got such a feeling about me here’—­as he said this he laid his hand upon his heart,—­’that if I stayed I should go for hard drinking.  I shall take the great Asiatic tour.  I know a fellow that wants to go, but he hasn’t got any money.  I daresay I shall be off before the end of next month.  You don’t know any fellow that would buy a half-a-dozen hunters; do you?’ Silverbridge shook his head.  ‘Good-bye,’ said Dolly, in a melancholy tone.  ’I am sure I am very much obliged to you for telling me.  If I’d known you’d meant it, I shouldn’t have meddled, of course.  Duchess of Omnium!’

’Look here, Dolly, I have told you what I should have not have told anyone, but I wanted to screen the young lady’s name.’

‘It was so kind of you.’

’Do not repeat it.  It is a kind of thing that ladies are particular about.  They choose their own time of letting everybody know.’  Then Dolly promised to be as mute as a fish, and took his departure.

Silverbridge had felt, towards the interview, that he had been arrogant to the unfortunate man,—­particular in saying that the young lady would not remember the existence of such a suitor,—­and had also recognised a certain honesty in the man’s purpose, which had not been less honest because it was so absurd.  Actuated by the consciousness of this, he had swallowed his anger, and had told the whole truth.  Nevertheless things had been said which were horrible to him.  This buffoon of a man had called his Isabel a-pert poppet!  How was he to get over the remembrance of such an offence?  And then the wretch had declared that he was—­enamoured!  There