Phineas comes close to being the first official victim of the Lopez affair as a vote of censure is called against him in Parliament. It is roundly defeated. Even so, Plantagenet's time as Prime Minister is winding down. At the end, the things that he desires to accomplish become Utopian. We are introduced to Major Tifto, whose knowledge of horses and ladies has attracted the friendship of Silverbridge. We learn of a previous relationship between Lady Max and Frank. He has, clearly, moved on. The Duke of St Bungay presents the cold facts to Plantagenet and he accepts the inevitable, at last. As we leave politics we enter the world of the Palliser children and their romances. Silverbridge offers himself to Mabel. She declines, for now. Frank's love for Mary progresses, in spite of Silverbridge's warning that it just won't wear. Silverbridge prepares to run for the seat at Silverbridge, which causes him to limit his friendship with Tifto to the horses only, and to tell his fathe