‘Mr. Dacre, I am about to ask of you a favour to which I have no claim.’
Mr. Dacre looked a little confused, and murmured his willingness to do anything.
‘To be explicit, I am engaged in an affair of honour of an urgent nature. Will you be my friend?’
‘Willingly.’ He spoke with more ease. ‘May I ask the name of the other party, the—the cause of the meeting?’
‘The other party is Sir Lucius Grafton.’
‘Hum!’ said Arundel Dacre, as if he were no longer curious about the cause. ‘When do you meet?’
‘At half-past six, in Kensington Gardens, to-morrow; I believe I should say this morning.’
‘Your Grace must be wearied,’ said Arundel, with unusual ease and animation. ‘Now, follow my advice. Go home at once and get some rest. Give yourself no trouble about preparations; leave everything to me. I will call upon you at half-past five precisely, with a chaise and post-horses, which will divert suspicion. Now, good night!’
‘But really, your rest must be considered; and then all this trouble!’
‘Oh! I have been in the habit of sitting up all night. Do not think of me; nor am I quite inexperienced in these matters, in too many of which I have unfortunately been engaged in Germany.’