"Why shouldn't we put it into type?"
"You don't mean to say that you'll publish it."
"Why shouldn't we publish it?"
"It's a private quarrel between a man and his wife. What on earth
have the public got to do with that?"
"Private quarrels between gentlemen and ladies have been public
affairs for a long time past. You must know that very well."
"When they come into court they are."
"In court and out of court! The morale of our aristocracy,--what you
call the Upper Ten,--would be at a low ebb indeed if the public press
didn't act as their guardians. Do you think that if the Duke of ----
beats his wife black and blue, nothing is to be said about it unless
the Duchess brings her husband into court? Did you ever know of a
separation among the Upper Ten, that wasn't handled by the press
one way or the other? It's my belief that there isn't a peer among
'em all as would live with his wife constant, if it was not for the
press;--only some of the very old ones, who couldn't help
themselves."
"And you call yourself a Conservative?"
"Never mind what I call myself.
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