Overview: Phineas continues to juggle his women. Meanwhile the Duke of Omnium continues his pursuit of Madame Max, she handles him with extreme skill and grace. Laura has become so miserable that she asks Phineas to not come to Scotland again. Phineas is rescued from his money problems by Fitzgibbon's sister and, then, goes to Brentford to stand for his new seat in Parliament. While there he decides to ask Violet to marry him. An act which will bring him into conflict with both Chiltern and Lord Brentford. A second son is born to the Pallisers and helps to smooth over a small row between husband and wife. Finn rejects the snide Slide and, then, has a confrontation with Chiltern over Violet. This leads to the necessity for a duel.