"He is not, sir—but walk in, Captain de Vere—my Lord bade me ask you to wait for him—my Lord is at a levée, but will be home soon."
"Very well, I'll wait;—you fellow," addressing his orderly, "wait for me."
The Captain never considered how long he kept any one waiting. The door was shut, and he followed the servant up a grand flight of stairs till they arrived at Lord Wentworth's study—a warm, comfortable little room. On the escritoire in the centre of the room lay many official letters, and state papers—several blank warrants signed by authority lay on one side. On these the Captain at once glanced with an air of surprise, and ill-concealed joy—"James, bring me a bottle of wine and some glasses—and biscuits—and James, the papers."
"Immediately, sir," said the servant, leaving the room. No sooner was he gone than the Captain appropriated one of these warrants.
"He will never miss one—there are more than a dozen—it may be of use some day—nothing like two strings to one's bow," he muttered, as he folded up the warrant and put it inside his cigar-case. Scarcely had he done so ere the servant returned with the creature comforts he had ordered. "Draw the cork, and now begone with you."
"Nothing else, sir?"
"No, sirrah, nothing."
"I may as well make myself jolly," said the Captain to himself. "If Wentworth's at a levée it will be a long time ere he comes back," and suiting the action to the word he drew a small chess-table to the fire: on this he placed the wine and biscuits; he then seated himself in an easy chair—placed his feet on another—and lighting a cigar began to read the papers—occasionally taking a glass of port wine with evident gusto—"Trust Bill for nabbing good wine."
Several times during the hour he awaited his brother, an observer might have seen him stride across the room to the window, which looked out on a side street running up from the sea,—make some masonic sign to some one on the opposite side, and, apparently satisfied with the result, return to his wine and newspaper.
"Curse this delay," said the Captain, striking his sword on the fender as the clock struck two.