Sir Edward smiled.
“The only answer your friend asks for is a verbal one,” he remarked.
“A verbal one,” Mr. Coulson assented, “delivered to me in the presence of one other person, whose name you will find mentioned in that letter.”
Sir Edward bowed his head. When he spoke again, his manner had somehow changed. It had become at once more official,—a trifle more stilted.
“This is a great subject, Mr. Coulson,” he said. “It is a subject which has occupied the attention of His Majesty’s Ministers for many months. I shall take the opinion of the other person whose name is mentioned in this letter, as to whether we can grant Mr. Jones’ request. If we should do so, it will not, I am sure, be necessary to say to you that any communication we may make on the subject tonight will be from men to a man of honor, and must be accepted as such. It will be our honest and sincere conviction, but it must also be understood that it does not bind the Government of this country to any course of action.”
Mr. Coulson smiled and nodded his head.
“That is what I call diplomacy, Sir Edward,” he remarked. “I always tell our people that they are too bullheaded. They don’t use enough words. What about that other friend of yours?”
Sir Edward glanced at his watch.
“It is possible,” he said, “that by this time Mr.——- Mr. Smith, shall we call him, to match your Mr. Jones?—is attending my wife’s reception, from which your message called me. If he has not yet arrived, my secretary shall telephone for him.”
Mr. Coulson indicated his approval.