It was the butler who had knocked,--showing that the knock was of more importance than it would have been had it been struck by the knuckles of the footman in livery. "If you please, sir, the Duke of St. Bungay is here."
"The Duke of St. Bungay!" said Mr. Palliser, becoming rather red as he heard the announcement.
"Yes, sir, his grace is in the library. He bade me tell you that he particularly wanted to see you; so I told him that you were with my lady."
"Quite right; tell his grace that I will be with him in two minutes." Then the butler retired, and Mr. Palliser was again alone with his wife.
"I must go now, my dear," he said; "and perhaps I shall not see you again till the evening."
"Don't let me put you out in any way," she answered.

It was the butler who had knocked. "If you please, sir, the Duke of St. Bungay is here."
"The Duke of St. Bungay!" said Mr. Palliser, becoming rather red.
"Yes, sir, his grace is in the library. He says that he particularly wants to see you; so I told him that you were with my lady."
"Quite right; tell his grace that I will be with him in two minutes." The butler retired. "I must go now, my dear," said Mr. Palliser; "and perhaps I shall not see you again till the evening."
"Don't let me put you out in any way," she answered.
