Dressed in a very unbecoming déshabille, consisting of a long bathrobe, tied around the waist with a piece of red bellcord, and old-fashioned nightcap on his head, and a pair of slippers very much down at the heel, the popular statesman and cabinet minister descended the stairs.
"Well, sirs, what affair of great moment made you arouse me from my bed at this unseemly hour?"
Then, as a glimmer of light from the candle fell upon Tempest's face, the secretary exclaimed:
"You are Lieutenant Tempest, are you not?"
"Yes, sir, and this is Captain Vernon of the Lively Bee."
"Ah! the bearer of the news which hath so charmed us. Forgive me for my brusquerie, but why call so late?"
Paul Hamilton was the very pink of gentlemanly courtesy, and after overcoming his first outburst of anger at being aroused from his warm bed, he was most cordial.
Tempest explained the object of his visit.
"There must be something wrong," he said; "if the boy, as you say, is condemned to die, why is he not in the military keeping?"