“Leslie,” said the minister, sealing a note, “take this back to Lord ———, and say that I shall be with him in an hour.”
“No other message?—he seemed to expect one.”
“I dare say he did. Well, my letter is official, my message is not: beg him to see Mr. ——- before we meet,—he will understand,—all rests upon that interview.”
Egerton then, extending the letter, resumed gravely, “Of course you will not mention to any one that Dr. F——- was with me: the health of public men is not to be suspected. Hum,—were you in your own room or the ante-room?”
“The ante-room, sir.”
Egerton’s brow contracted slightly. “And Mr. Levy was there, eh?”
“Yes—the baron.”
“Baron! true. Come to plague me about the Mexican loan, I suppose. I will keep you no longer.”
Randal, much meditating, left the house, and re-entered his hack cab. The baron was admitted to the statesman’s presence.