s
blandest smiles, "In _my_ craft the great secret is never to give a flat
refusal to anything. If the French were to ask us for the Isle of Wight,
the proper reply would be a polite demand for the reasons that prompted
the request--whether 'Osborne' might be reserved--and a courteous
assurance that the claim should meet with every consideration and a
cordial disposition to make every possible concession that might lead to
a closer union with a nation it was our pride and happiness to reckon on
as an ally."

"These fallacies never deceive any one."

"Nor are they meant to do so, any more than the words 'your most
obedient and humble servant' at the foot of a letter; but they serve to
keep correspondence within polite limits."

"And they consume time," broke she in, impatiently.

"And, as you observe so aptly, they consume time."

"Let us have done with trifling, my Lord. I mean to answer this letter
in my own way."

"I can have no other objection to make to that, save the unnecessary
loss of time I have incurred in listening to the matter."

"That time so precious to the nation you serve!" said she, sneeringly.

"Your Ladyship admirably expresses my meaning."

"Then, my Lord, I make you the only amends in my power; I take my leave
of you."

"Your Ladyship's politeness is never at fault," said he, rising to open
the door for her.

"Has Temple told you that the box on the lower tier is now free--the
box I spoke of?"

"He has; but our stay here is now uncertain. It may be days; it may be
hours--"

"And why was not I told? I have been giving orders to
tradespeople--accepting invitations--making engagements, and what
not. Am I to be treated like the wife of a subaltern in a marching
regiment--to hold myself ready to start when the route comes?"

"How I could envy that subaltern," said he, with an inimitable mixture
of raillery and deference.

She darted on him a look of indignant anger, and swept out of the room.

Lord Culduff rang his bell, and told the servant to beg Mr. Temple
Bramleigh would have the kindness to step down to him.

"Write to Filangieri, Temple," said he, "and say that I desire to have
access to the prisoner Rogers. We know nothing of his escape, and the
demand will embarrass--There, don't start objections, my dear boy;
I never play a card without thinking what the enemy will do after he
scores the trick."

And with this profound encomium on himself he dismissed the secretary,
and