"Yes—all the usual harmless things," said Ashe.
Madame d'Estrées laughed; then looked at him across the top of her fan.
"Well!—and what else?"
"You can't wait for your newspaper?" he said, smiling, after a moment's pause.
She shrugged her shoulders good-humoredly.
"Oh! I know—of course I know. Is it as good as you expected?"
"As good as—" The young man opened his mouth in wonder. "What right had I to expect anything?"
"How modest! All the same, they want you—and they're very glad to get you. But you can't save them."
"That's not generally expected of Under-Secretaries, is it?"
"A good deal's expected of you. I talked to Lord Parham about you last night."