“Of course not. The whole incident did not occupy ten minutes.”
“They 've been at me again about my pension,—his doing, I'm sure,” muttered he,—“asking for a return of services, and such-like rubbish.”
“Don't let them worry you, papa; they dare not push you to publicity. It's like a divorce case, where one of the parties, being respectable, must submit to any terms imposed.”
“Well, that's my own view of it, dear; and so I said, 'Consult the secret instructions to the Under-Secretary for Ireland for an account of services rendered by N. H.'”
“You 'll hear no more of it,” said she, flippantly. “What of Ludlow? Where is he?”
“He's here. Don't you know that?”
“Here! Do you mean in Florence?”
“Yes; he came with Stocmar. They are at the same hotel.”
“I declare I half suspected it,” said she, with a sort of bitter laugh. “Oh, the cunning Mr. Stocmar, that must needs deceive me!”
“And you have seen him?”