‘Nothing serious. Can you spare me a few moments’ talk? I won’t take up your time if you are in a hurry.’
‘Not in the least. I’m entirely at your disposal. Nothing on for the afternoon, and I was preparing to loaf.’
The two turned back into the house and crossed the hall to the ambassador’s private library. Melville closed the door and regarded his companion a trifle quizzically. Sybert dropped into a chair, indicated another, and pushed a box of cigars and some matches across the table; then he looked up and caught Melville’s expression.
‘Well, what’s up?’ he asked again.
The consul-general selected a cigar with some deliberation, bit off the end, and regarded it critically, while his smile broadened. ‘I have just returned from the mass meeting of the foreign residents,’ he remarked.
‘That should have been entertaining.’
‘It was,’ he admitted. ‘There was some spirited discussion as to the best way of suppressing the riots.’
‘And how did they decide to do it?’
‘They have appointed a committee.’
‘Of course a committee!’ Sybert laughed. ‘And what is the committee to do? Wait on the ministers and invite them to reconstruct their morals? Ask the King to spend a little less money on the soldiers’ uniforms and a little more on their rations?’