“No!” he said. “I’d be contented with something less. Just now my ambition don’t soar extravagantly high.”
“Suppose you try Lord —, who has Government influence? In these troublous times there’s no end of employment, and for men whose misfortunes don’t need to be called to remembrance. Yours won’t stand in the way. I know his lordship personally. He’s not at all exacting.”
“You know him, Sir Robert?”
“Intimately. And if I’m not mistaken, he’s just the man to serve you; that is, by getting you some appointment? The diplomatic service has grown wonderfully, since the breaking out of these revolutions. More especially the secret branch of it. I’ve reason to know that enormous sums are now spent upon it. Then, why shouldn’t you try to get a pull out of the secret service chest?”
Swinton relit his pipe, and sat cogitating.
“A pipe don’t become a guardsman,” jokingly remarked his guest. “The favourites of the Foreign Office smoke only regalias.”
Swinton received this sally with a smile, that showed the dawning of a new hope.
“Take one?” continued the baronet, presenting his gold-clasped case.
Swinton pitched the briar-root aside, and set fire to the cigar.
“You are right, Sir Robert,” he said; “I ought to try for something. It’s very good of you to give me the advice. But how am I to follow it? I have no acquaintance with the nobleman you speak of; nor have any of my friends.”