"Oh, dear, yes, with no trouble at all," said the Minister, almost with sulkiness, as he threw himself into a chair and looked with distaste at the newspaper he had taken up.
Sir Wilfrid surveyed him.
"We meet to-night?" he said, presently.
"You mean in Heribert Street? I suppose so," said Montresor, without cordiality.
"I have just got a letter from her ladyship."
"Well, I hope it is more agreeable than those she writes to me. A more unreasonable old woman--"
The tired Minister took up Punch, looked at a page, and flung it down again. Then he said:
"Are you going?"
"I don't know. Lady Henry gives me leave, which makes me feel myself a kind of spy."
"Oh, never mind. Come along. Mademoiselle Julie will want all our support. I don't hear her as kindly spoken of just now as I should wish."