Lord Kilgobbin

'And shall I give ten thousand pounds to test _that?_'

'No, my lord; but to repossess yourself of what, in very doubtful hands, might prove a great scandal and a great disaster.'

'Ten thousand pounds! ten thousand pounds!'

'Why not eight--perhaps five? I have not your lords.h.i.+p's great knowledge to guide me, and I cannot tell when these men really mean to maintain their ground. From my own very meagre experiences, I should say he was not a very tractable individual. He sees some promise of better fortune before him, and like a genuine gambler--as I hear he is--he determines to back his luck.'

'Ten thousand pounds!' muttered the other, below his breath.

'As regards the money, my lord, I take it that these same papers were doc.u.ments which more or less concerned the public service--they were in no sense personal, although meant to be private; and, although in my ignorance I may be mistaken, it seems to me that the fund devoted to secret services could not be more fittingly appropriated than in acquiring doc.u.ments whose publicity could prove a national injury.'

'Totally wrong--utterly wrong. The money could never be paid on such a pretence--the "Office" would not sanction--no Minister would dare to advise it.'

'Then I come back to my original suggestion. I should give a conditional acceptance, and treat for a reduction of the amount.'

'You would say five?'

'I opine, my lord, eight would have more chance of success.'

'You are a warm advocate for your client,' said his lords.h.i.+p, laughing; and though the shot was merely a random one, it went so true to the mark that Atlee flushed up and became crimson all over. 'Don't mistake me, Atlee,'

said his lords.h.i.+p, in a kindly tone. 'I know thoroughly how _my_ interests, and only mine, have any claim on your attention. This Greek fellow must be less than nothing to you. Tell me now frankly, do you believe one word he has told you? Is he really named as Minister to Turkey?'

'That much I can answer for--he is.'

'What of the daughter--is there a daughter?'

'I suspect there may be. However, the matter admits of an easy proof. He has given me names and addresses in Ireland of relatives with whom she is living. Now, I am thoroughly conversant with Ireland, and, by the indications in my power, I can pledge myself to learn all, not only about the existence of this person, but of such family circ.u.mstances as might serve to guide you in your resolve. Time is what is most to be thought of here. Kostalergi requires a prompt answer--first of all, your a.s.surance that you will support his claim to be received by the Sultan. Well, my lord, if you refuse, Mouravieff will do it. You know better than me how impolitic it might be to throw those Turks more into Russian influence--'

'Never mind _that_, Atlee. Don't distress yourself about the political aspect of the question.'

'I promised a telegraphic line to say, would you or would you not sustain his nomination. It was to be Yes or No--not more.'

'Say Yes. I'll not split hairs about what Greek best

Say Yes.'

'I am sure, my lord, you do wisely. He is evidently a man of ability, and, I suspect, not morally much worse than his countrymen in general.'

'Say Yes; and then'--he mused for some minutes before he continued--'and then run over to Ireland--learn something, if you can, of this girl, with whom she is staying, in what position, what guarantees, if any, could be had for the due employment and destination of a sum of money, in the event of our agreeing to pay it. Mind, it is simply as a gauge of the fellow's veracity that this story has any value for us. Daughter or no daughter, is not of any moment to me; but I want to test the problem--can he tell one word of truth about anything? You are shrewd enough to see the bearing of this narrative on all he has told you--where it sustains, where it accuses him.'

'Shall I set out at once, my lord?'

'No. Next week will do. We'll leave him to ruminate over your telegram.

_That_ will show him we have entertained his project; and he is too practised a hand not to know the value of an opened negotiation. Cradock and Mellish, and one or two more, wish to talk with you about Turkey.

Graydon, too, has some questions to ask you about Suez. They dine here on Monday. Tuesday we are to have the Hargraves and Lord Masham, and a couple of Under-Secretaries of State; and Lady Maude will tell us about Wednesday, for all these people, Atlee, are coming to meet _you_. The newspapers have so persistently been keeping you before the world, every one wants to see you.'

Atlee might have told his lords.h.i.+p--but he did not--by what agency it chanced that his journeys and his jests were so thoroughly known to the press of every capital in Europe.

CHAPTER LXXI

THE DRIVE

Sunday came, and with it the visit to South Kensington, where Aunt Jerningham lived; and Atlee found himself seated beside Lady Maude in a fine roomy barouche, whirling along at a pace that our great moralist himself admits to be amongst the very pleasantest excitements humanity can experience.

'I hope you will add your persuasions to mine, Mr. Atlee, and induce my uncle to take these horses with him to Turkey. You know Constantinople, and can say that real carriage-horses cannot be had there.'

'Horses of this size, shape, and action the Sultan himself has not the equals of.'

'No one is more aware than my lord,' continued she, 'that the measure of an amba.s.sador's influence is, in a great degree, the style and splendour in which he represents his country, and that his household, his equipage, his retinue, and his dinners, should mark distinctly the station he a.s.sumes to occupy. Some caprice of Mr. Walpole's about Arab horses--Arabs of bone and blood he used to talk of--has taken hold of my uncle's mind, and I half fear that he may not take the English horses with him.'

'By the way,' said Atlee, half listlessly, 'where _is_ Walpole? What has become of him?'

'He is in Ireland at this moment.'

'In Ireland! Good heavens! has he not had enough of Ireland?'

'Apparently not. He went over there on Tuesday last.'

'And what can he possibly have to do in Ireland?'

'I should say that _you_ are more likely to furnish the answer to that question than I. If I'm not much mistaken, his letters are forwarded to the same country-house where you first made each other's acquaintance.'

'What, Kilgobbin Castle?'

'Yes, it is something Castle, and I think the name you mentioned.'

'And this only puzzles me the more,' added Atlee, pondering. 'His first visit there, at the time I met him, was a mere accident of travel--a tourist's curiosity to see an old castle supposed to have some historic a.s.sociations.'

'Were there not some other attractions in the spot?' interrupted she, smiling.

'Yes, there was a genial old Irish squire, who did the honours very handsomely, if a little rudely, and there were two daughters, or a daughter and a niece, I'm not very clear which, who sang Irish melodies and talked rebellion to match very amusingly.'

'Were they pretty?'

'Well, perhaps courtesy would say "pretty," but a keener criticism would dwell on certain awkwardnesses of manner--Walpole called them Irishries.'

'Indeed!'

'Yes, he confessed to have been amused with the eccentric habits and odd ways, but he was not sparing of his strictures afterwards.'

'So that there were no "tendernesses?"'

'Oh, I'll not go that far. I rather suspect there were "tendernesses,"

but only such as a fine gentleman permits himself amongst semi-savage peoples--something that seems to say, "Be as fond of me as you like, and it is a great privilege you enjoy; and I, on my side, will accord you such of my affections as I set no particular store by." Just as one throws small coin to a beggar.'

'Oh, Mr. Atlee!'