"By Jove, I hope so. And we alone know the secret history!"
"Yes," said Ayre; "and you, Rick, will have to sit silent and hear the enemy triumph."
Lord Rickmansworth did not think it worth while to repudiate the odium theologicum imputed to him. Probably he knew he was in reality above the suspicion of caring for such things.
"Shall you tell Claudia?" Ayre asked Eugene, as they went upstairs.
"Yes; I shall show her his letter. I think I ought, don't you?"
"Perhaps; will you show it me?"
"Yes; in fact he asks me to give you the news, as he is too occupied to write to you. The note is quite short, and, I think, studiously reserved."
He gave it to Ayre, who read it silently. It ran:
"DEAR EUGENE:
"A line to wish Lady Claudia and yourself all happiness and joy. Do not let your joy be shadowed by over-kind thoughts of me. I am my own man again. You will see soon by the papers that I have taken the important step of being received into the Catholic Church. I need not trouble you with an argument. I think I have done well, and hope to find there work for my hands to do. Pray give this news to Ayre, and with it my most warm and friendly remembrances. I would write but for my stress of work. He was a friend to me in my need. They are sending me to Rome for a time; after that I hope I shall come to England, and renew my friendships. Good-by, old fellow, till then. I long for ῆστ᾽ ἀγαυοφροϛὑῃ καὶ σοἱϛ ἀγανῖϛ ἐπἑεσσιυ.
"Yours always,
"C.S.K."
"That doesn't tell one much, does it?"