It was understood everywhere that the Prime Minister was bidding for greatness and popularity.

Of course the trumpets were blown very loudly.

"If people don't take care," said the Duchess, "I'll put everybody off and have the whole place shut up.

I'd do it for sixpence, now." Perhaps of all the persons, much or little concerned, the one who heard the least of the trumpets,--or rather who was the last to hear them,--was the Duke himself.

He could not fail to see something in the newspapers, but what he did see did not attract him so frequently or so strongly as it did others.