"Sit down," he said, "and rest before you speak! There is brandy in that flask that stands upon the bureau.... But something hot would be better for you—that is what you most need."
There was a sound upon the landing ... a faint tap upon the door panel.
"See who it is!" said the Chancellor.
As Breagh rose, the door opened, wide enough to admit a little tray bearing two steaming coffee cups.
"Capital!" said His Excellency, addressing the unseen cup-bearer. "Now, that I call an excellent thought!"
He took a cup from the tray Breagh offered, bidding him:
"Sit down and drink the other. I should have got none except for you!" When the steaming cup was empty, "Proceed," he said, ignoring the gray daylight outlining the curtain poles and filtering between the drawn curtains.
"At what hour did you get to Maisons Lafitte? For I presume you did get there?"
P. C. Breagh said:
"I got there at about two o'clock.... I had an appointment at the Cathedral, otherwise I should have started before."