"Oh! a friend," said the man, answering in bad English. "Perhaps de friend can advance moneys?"
"Never mind what he can do," said Burgo. "You do as you are bid, and leave me."
Then the gentleman from the hotel retreated down the hill, but Mr. Palliser, during the rest of the interview, frequently fancied that he heard the man's footfall at no great distance.
They continued to walk on up the hill very slowly, and it was some time before Mr. Palliser knew how to repeat his offer.
"So Lady Glencora is here?" Burgo said again.
"Yes, she is here. It was she who asked me to come to you," Mr. Palliser answered. Then they both walked on a few steps in silence, for neither of them knew how to address the other.
"By George!—isn't it odd," said Burgo, at last, "that you and I, of all men in the world, should be walking together here at Baden? It's not only that you're the richest man in London, and that I'm the poorest, but—; there are other things, you know, which make it so funny."
"There have been things which make me and my wife very anxious to give you aid."
"And have you considered, Mr. Palliser, that those things make you the very man in the world,—indeed, for the matter of that, the only man in the world,—from whom I can't take aid. I would have taken it all if I could have got it,—and I tried hard."
"I know you have been disappointed, Mr. Fitzgerald."