“How is that?”
“I had a talk, a half-confidential talk, last night with Sewell on the subject, and he distinctly gave me to understand it could be negotiated through him.”
“And you believed him?”
“Yes, I believed him. It was the sort of tortuous, crooked transaction such a man might well move in. Had he told me of something very fine, very generous or self-devoting, he was about to do, I 'd have hesitated to accord him my trustfulness.”
“What it is to be a lawyer!” said Balfour, with affected horror.
“What it must be if a Secretary of State recoils from his perfidy! Oh, Mr. Balfour, for the short time our official connection may last let us play fair! I am not so coldblooded, nor are you as crafty, as you imagine. We are both of us better than we seem.”
“Will you dine here to-day, Pem?”
“Thanks, no; I am engaged.”
“To-morrow, then?—I'll have Branley and Keppel to meet you.”
“I always get out of town on Saturday night. Pray excuse me.”