Marion Fay II

When Lord Persiflage returned to Castle Hautboy, he had his plan ready arranged for relieving his future half-nephew­in-law, — if there be such a relationship, — from the igno­miny of the Post Office. “I have Her Majesty’s permission,” he said to Roden, “to offer you the position of Registrar of State Records to the Foreign Office.”

“Fifteen hundred a year,” said his lordship, going off at once to this one point of true vital importance. “I am bound to say that I think I could have done better for you had you consented to bear the title, which is as completely your own, as is that mine by which I am called.”

ANTHONY TROLLOPE

office. It is exactly that kind of work which would fall readily into the hands of a foreigner of high rank. One cannot explain these things, but it is so. The £1500 a year would more prob­ably become £2000 if you submitted to be called by your own proper name.” Everybody knew that Lord Persiflage understood the Civil Service of his country perfectly. He was a man who never worked very hard himself, or expected those under him to do so; but he liked common sense, and hated scruples, and he considered it to be a man’s duty to take care of himself, — of himself first of all, and then, perhaps, afterwards, of the Service.

Lady Frances did not give way in the least, nor did any one venture to call the Duca by his title, formally or openly. But, as Lord Hampstead had said, “it stuck to him.” The women when they were alone with him would call him Duca, joking with him; and it was out of the question that he should be angry with them for their jokes. He became aware that behind his back he was always spoken of as The Duke, and that this was not done with any idea of laughing at him. The people around him believed that he was a Duke and ought to be called a Duke. Of course it was in joke that Lady Llwddythlw always called Lady Frances Duchessina when they were together, because Lady Frances had certainly not as yet acquired her right to the name; but it all tended to the same point. He became aware that the very servants around him understood it. They did not call him “your grace” or “my Lord,” or make spoken allusion to his rank; but they looked it. All that obsequiousness due to an hereditary nobleman, which is dear to the domestic heart, was paid to him. He found himself called upon by Lady Persi­flage to go into the dining-room out of his proper place. There was a fair excuse for this while the party was small, and con­fined to few beyond the family, as it was expected that the two declared lovers should sit together. But when this had been done with a larger party he expostulated with his hostess. “My dear Mr. Roden,” she said, — “I suppose I must call you so.”

ANTHONY TROLLOPE

nobleman, though, for negative reasons, he was not to be al­lowed to gratify his tongue by naming the august name. Crock­er was a little shy; — but he plucked up his courage at last. “I shall always know what I know, you know,” he said, as he shook hands with the friend to whom he had been so much attached. Bobbin and Geraghty made no allusions to the title, but they, too, as they were severally greeted, were evidently under the influence of the nobility of their late brother clerk.