And of a truth he was certainly charming in conversation, for I, who sat beside him, can vouch for it.
"Will the budding flowers of diplomatic relations have withered owing to your absence, Sir Edward?" I ventured to ask as we drove through St. Cloud.
"No; I do not think so," he answered, with a laugh. "But, seriously, it is a little troublesome. They must have been retarded somewhat, and I shall possibly be blamed for taking a brief holiday at such an important moment."
"Then you will call it a holiday?"
He looked at me with a slight elevation of the eyebrows.
"Naturally!"
"You are more than generous, Sir Edward."
"Tut, tut! but still, things may be a trifle unpleasant. For instance, an hour before le Duc d'Eautine's pressing invitation that I should become his guest arrived, I received a bundle of official papers from your Premier, Monsieur Roché, and, not realizing that I was going to take a holiday, placed them at once in my safe, where they now repose, untouched and unlocked at."
"Untouched and unlocked at!" I cried, my blood tingling with delight at the kindness of the fates.
"Yes; it sounds undiplomatic, does it not?"