“Pleasantry, sir?”
“I believe so. You spoke of sixty thousand pounds, or some such trifle.”
“That was no pleasantry, Roxhythe.”
My lord’s brows rose.
“I did you the honour to treat it as such, Madame.”
Madame studied the cushion tassel.
“Well? What does Charles want?”
“He will sign your treaty, Madame, for the annual allowances of two hundred thousand pounds paid quarterly. No less.”
Madame bit her lip.
“Impossible!”
Roxhythe took up his hat.
“In that case, Madame, we are wasting time. The negotiations need proceed no further.” He rose as he spoke.
Madame raised her hands.
“Oh, la-la! So haughty? No, no, sit down, Roxhythe! We must talk of this.”
Roxhythe relaxed again.
“What is there to talk of, Madame? Those are King Charles his terms. It but remains for you to put them before King Louis.”
“Shall we be quite honest?” said Madame, sweetly. “You name that figure—why?”
“It seems a fair price,” answered Roxhythe. “Or do you want me to be really honest?”
“I said so.”
“Very well. I am, as I was informed the other day, very quick to take impressions. I received one from you that led me to advise my master to ask that sum of Louis.”
“Aho! I wondered if you were as stupidly obtuse as you appeared. It seems you are not. I felicitate you, my lord. But I do not think I gave you such a decided impression.”
“You gave me to understand that Louis was prepared to go to a far greater sum than sixty thousand. The rest I gathered from mine own intuition, and various other sources.”
“My Lord Roxhythe, you are either a very clever man or else a fool. I do not think that Louis will go to that figure. One hundred thousand perhaps. But two hundred thousand! It is a very different matter.”
“You will see, Madame. It is King Charles his last word.”
She looked at him admiringly.
“You have unbounded confidence in yourself, Roxhythe. Do you tell me that that is my brother his last word? I seem to see your hand alone in it. You must be very sure.”
“I am very sure,” he replied.
“So was Lord Arundell sure when he asked two million.”
“But I, Madame, am not Lord Arundell.”
“No,” she sighed. “I would you were. You are quite certain?”
“Yes, Madame.”
“Then we understand one another. I’ll give—King Charles his last word—to Louis. You are satisfied?”
He rose.
“Since I am assured of your support in the matter, yes, Madame.”
“You are audacity itself,” she said. “Will you wait on me—no, I’ll send you word what day. Are you staying with de Guiche as before?”
“No,” said my lord, possessing himself of her hand. “This time I am honouring Saint-Aignan.”
“How truly delightful for him!” she retaliated. “Well, you shall hear from me.”
Roxhythe kissed her hand.
“I shall await your commands, Madame. I have to thank you for receiving me today.”
“Did you see Madame?” asked Saint-Aignan of him, two hours later.
“I did,” said Roxhythe.
“Well? What of the interview?”
“She is the most charming, beautiful lady that I have ever known,” replied my lord.
“I consider that you have offered me your comfit-box!” laughed Saint-Aignan. “I am dumb, then?”
Roxhythe nodded approvingly.
“You should never give way to idle curiosity,” he said. He surveyed his friend critically. “And I do not think I like the mixture of salmon-pink and orange.”
IX
The Growth of the Seed
Lord Ashley-Cooper desired to see Mr. Dart. Lord Ashley-Cooper was conducted to the library. Christopher was not there, so my lord was requested to wait. My lord sat down. He surveyed his surroundings, which were very handsome. The room was hung in brown and gold; the chairs were leather-seated, with carved wooden backs; the table was of solid oak. Over by the window stood Christopher’s desk. The room gave on to the gardens.
Presently Christopher came quickly into the room.
“My lord! This is indeed an honour!”
Ashley took his hands, looking at him gloomily. It was a different Christopher from the boy who had visited him two years ago. Christopher had now an ease of manner; a presence. He dressed well, and with none of his former sobriety. He still wore his own fair hair, but he had taken to dressing it very carefully, and it hung in ordered curls about his shoulders. Ashley had watched the gradual change from afar but he had rarely seen Christopher for any length of time alone. Hence Christopher’s surprise.
He pulled forward a more comfortable chair.
“Pray sit down, sir! I am delighted to see you. Have you commands for me, I wonder?”
“No.” Ashley watched one of my lord’s liveried servants place wine and glasses on the table. “This is purely a friendly call.”
Christopher nodded to the servant.
“You may go, Roger. I am out to all other visitors.”
The man bowed and departed. Christopher busied himself with the glasses.
“Some canary, my lord? Yes?” He handed him the glass and poured out another for himself. Then he sat down.
“Well, it is a very long while since I have had any private conversation with you, sir. This is very pleasant.”
“Indeed, yes. I do not think I have really talked to you since you returned from Holland.”
Christopher frowned a little. On that occasion, Ashley had been moved to adjure him to leave Roxhythe’s service, now that his work was done. After that there had been a slight estrangement between them.
“No, I think not,” said Christopher. “Do you hear from Roderick at all, sir?”
“Very seldom,” replied Ashley. “Have you any news of him?”
For a while they talked of Roderick and trivialities. Then Ashley took advantage of a pause to change the subject.
“Lord Roxhythe is still away?”
Christopher sighed inwardly.
“Yes,” he replied, on guard.
“Indeed? He is often abroad, is he not? I suppose you manage his affairs?”
“I have that honour,” said Christopher. He filled up the glasses.
“Christopher, have you yet discovered that Lord Roxhythe is a—very complex character?”
“No,” said Christopher. “Have you?”
“I suspect it,” said Ashley. “I fear it. In fact, I fear Roxhythe.”
Christopher was silent. He was tired of discussing Roxhythe with all and sundry.
“I fear he is not so indolent as he would have us believe.” Ashley ground the knuckles of one
