"In substance what I've said to you."
"Very well."
"Kindly leave out all reference, by name, to Lieutenant Kingsland and Miss Fitzgerald."
"Ha! I suppose you still think she's an angel."
"I know she is a woman, Colonel Darcy."
For some time there was no sound in the room but the scratching of pen to paper. At length, however, the Colonel raised his head from his work, and, pushing it towards the Secretary, said laconically:—
"Will it do?"
"Quite," replied Stanley, after perusing it. "Will you sign it, please? Thanks, I'll witness."
"There," said the Colonel, rising. "That closes our interview."
"Not quite yet, Colonel. I've still an advantageous offer to make to you, in reward for some further concessions of a different character. The case for the government is closed. Our private affairs yet remain to be settled."