ity--why,
the case might have seemed changed, the issue have been different. But
he was so seldom able to show what he was. He had no spontaneous power
of expressing himself; the revelation had to be wrung out by
force--_peine forte et dure_; he had to be pressed almost to death
before he would plead for himself, for his case, for what he felt deep
down within him. All that was too late to think about--unless some day,
in the future, it might avail to make them decently friendly--avail
against the deep wound to pride on one side, against the obstinate
championship of the dead on the other.

But to-day he had opened himself frankly enough to absolve me from
formalities.

"Gratitude isn't asked. I imagine that the proper forms would be."

He turned to me very quickly. "I'm on terms of acquaintance with a lady,
or I'm not. If I am, I hope that I omit no courtesy."

"Nor give it grudgingly?"

"She told you to say that?"

"No--nor some other things I've said. But I know how she'd take any
paring down of what is requisite." I ventured a smile at him. "You would
have to call, I think, to-morrow." I let that sink in. "And Lady Sarah a
few days afterwards."

He gave a short laugh. "You're speaking of matters of course, if this
thing is decided as it looks like being."

I got up from my chair. "I go back with the promise of your neutrality?"
I asked.

"Neutrality is surrender," he said.

"Yes, I think so. Young blood is in the question. Besides--as you see
yourself--the prospect may to a young man seem--rather dazzling."

"Let me alone, Mr. Austin, let me alone, for God's sake!"

"I go the moment you wish me to, Lord Fillingford. I carry my answer
with me--isn't it so?"

Wonderfully recovering himself--with the most rapid transition to an
orderly self-composure--he came and sat down at his table again.

"I shall see my son on this matter directly after lunch. It will be
proper to convey immediate news of our decision to Breysgate Priory. I
shouldn't like--in the event we both contemplate--to appear tardy in
paying my respects to Miss Driver. At what hour to-morrow afternoon do
you suppose that it would be convenient to her to receive me?"

"I should think that about four o'clock would be quite convenient," I
answered.

With that, I rose to my feet--my mission was ended. Neither quite as we
had hoped, nor quite as we had feared. We had not bullied--we had hardly
threatened. If we had bribed, we had not bribed