'I come on behalf of a gentleman, whom, perhaps, we need not name,' said Montague.
'Indeed?' said Lord Sidney, with a start of surprise.
'I can understand that your lordship did not expect me, but I am his friend.'
'To be frank, I expected no one.'
'Your lordship, then, hardly knows the gentleman?'
'On the contrary,' said Lord Sidney, and he took up from the table the Flying Post of that morning. He handed the paper to Montague, and pointed to a sentence which came at the end of a description of Mr. Kelly's arrest.
'It is said that Mr. Nicholas Wogan is also in London, hiding under the incognito of Hilton, and that he will be taken to-day.'
'You see, my lord,' said Montague, 'that there are certain difficulties which threaten to interfere with our arrangements.'
'My friend is aware of them,' said Lord Sidney, and presented his friend.
'Before making any arrangements I should be glad if your lordship would favour me with a hearing in some private place. It is I who ask, not my friend, Mr. Hilton.'