At that moment there was a knock at the door, and a second later a man entered who gave the appearance of having come from a distance.
He was a mild, placid-looking creature whose very walk suggested that he was constantly making an apology for his existence. A creature not of highways, but of byways, a humble Uriah Heep sort of fellow who could act like a whipped cur in his desire to curry favour, but who in his hour of triumph would show his fangs, and rend his victim without mercy.
"You are back to time, Slyme. Well, what news?"
By this time Romanoff was the great gentleman again—haughty, patronising, calm, and collected.
"Of course your honour has heard that he's in? I wired the moment I knew."
"Yes, I knew that before I got your wire. A servant in the hotel here told me the moment it was ticked off on the tape. Of course I expected that. Naturally it was uncertain, as all such things are. One can calculate on the actions of the few; but not on those of the many. Human nature is a funny business."
"Isn't it, your Excellency? It's a remark I've often dared to make; one can never tell what'll happen. But he's in; he's the Member for Eastroyd."
"With over a thousand majority."
"I've discovered that he's coming up to town by the midnight train from Eastroyd."
"Ah!" The Count's eyes flashed with interest.