The housekeeper shut the front-door behind the visitor, and returned demurely the way she had come.
‘Thank you, Mrs. Porter,’ said Lord Griffinhoofe, with a nervous smile: ‘I thought you would know what was the right thing.... And what can I do for you, Madam?’ he inquired, stumbling on Mr. Cato. ‘What, Mr. Cato! So you’re back. How stupid of them to keep you waiting in here. Come along! Come along!’
He led him into his study beyond.
‘So you’ve come back for the great fight. It’s a secret—I had a wire this morning—you mustn’t tell anyone; we’re within measurable distance of a General Election.’
‘Yes; I saw it in the “Westminster” last night.’
‘Really! How do these papers find out? It came on me quite as a surprise. I’ve been promised—practically promised the—h’m! h’m! It’s a dead secret, mind; you mustn’t let it out.’
‘Why, the “Westminster”....’
‘They had that in too?’
‘No; in fact they mentioned Lord Rosebery.’
‘Bosh!’