and a certain trembling of
his upper lip, that the scrutiny cost him no common effort. It was, in
fact, the effort to divine what, if he mistook to read aright, would be an
irreparable blunder.

With the long-drawn inspiration a man makes before he adventures a daring
feat, he said: 'It is time I should be candid with you, Prince. It is time
I should tell you that I am in Greece only to see _you_.'

'To see me?' said the other, and a very faint flush passed across his face.

'To see you,' said Atlee slowly, while he drew out a pocket-book and took
from it a letter. 'This,' said he, handing it, 'is to your address.' The
words on the cover were M. Spiridionides.

'I am Spiridion Kostalergi, and by birth a Prince of Delos,' said the
Greek, waving back the letter.

'I am well aware of that, and it is only in perfect confidence that I
venture to recall a past that your Excellency will see I respect,' and
Atlee spoke with an air of deference.

'The antecedents of the men who serve this country are not to be measured
by the artificial habits of a people who regulate condition by money.
_Your_ statesmen have no need to be journalists, teachers, tutors;
Frenchmen and Italians are all these, and on the Lower Danube and in Greece
we are these and something more.--Nor are we less politicians that we are
more men of the world.--The little of statecraft that French Emperor ever
knew, he picked up in his days of exile.' All this he blurted out in short
and passionate bursts, like an angry man who was trying to be logical in
his anger, and to make an effort of reason subdue his wrath.

'If I had not understood these things as you yourself understand them, I
should not have been so indiscreet as to offer you that letter,' and once
more he proffered it.

This time the Greek took it, tore open the envelope, and read it through.

'It is from Lord Danesbury,' said he at length. 'When we parted last, I
was, in a certain sense, my lord's subordinate--that is, there were things
none of his staff or secretaries or attaches or dragomen could do, and I
could do them. Times are changed, and if we are to meet again, it will be
as colleagues. It is true, Mr. Atlee, the ambassador of England and the
envoy of Greece are not exactly of the same rank. I do not permit myself
many illusions, and this is not one of them; but remember, if Great Britain
be a first-rate Power, Greece is a volcano. It is for us to say when there
shall be an eruption.'