BEING A SHORT CHAPTER, CONTAINING A MOST IMPORTANT EVENT.
SIR WILLIAM'S letter was still fresh in my mind, when, for want of some less noble quarter wherein to bestow my tediousness, I repaired to St. John. As I crossed the hall to his apartment, two men, just dismissed from his presence, passed me rapidly; one was unknown to me, but there was no mistaking the other,—it was Montreuil. I was greatly startled; the priest, not appearing to notice me, and conversing in a whispered yet seemingly vehement tone with his companion, hurried on and vanished through the street door. I entered St. John's room: he was alone, and received me with his usual gayety.
"Pardon me, Mr. Secretary," said I; "but if not a question of state, do inform me what you know respecting the taller one of those two gentlemen who have just quitted you."
"It is a question of state, my dear Devereux, so my answer must be brief,—very little."
"You know who he is?"
"Yes, a Jesuit, and a marvellously shrewd one: the Abbe Montreuil."
"He was my tutor."
"Ah, so I have heard."
"And your acquaintance with him is positively and /bona fide/ of a state nature?"
"Positively and /bona fide/."