"Only, madam, what I said before," he answered smoothly and gravely; "my lord's secession is no longer in issue. The question is how he may be brought back into the path of loyalty. To be frank, he is not of the stuff of those, whom your ladyship knows, who will readily lick both sides of the trencher. And so, without some little pressure, he will not be brought back. But were he once committed to the good cause, either by an indiscretion on his own part, if he could be induced to that----"
"Which he cannot, man, he cannot," she struck in impatiently. "He made one slip, and he will make no second."
"True, madam," the man answered. "Then there remains only the way which does not depend on him; and which I before indicated; some ruse which may lead both the friends and enemies of the good cause to think him committed to it. Afterwards, this opinion being brought to his notice, and with it, the possibility of clearing himself to the satisfaction both of St. Germain's and St. James's, he would, I think, come over."
"'Tis a long way round," said madam, dryly.
"It is a long way to Rome, madam," said the man, with meaning in his voice.
She nodded and shifted uneasily in her seat. "You think that the one means the other?" she said at last.
"I do, madam. But there is a new point, which has just arisen."
"A new point! What?"
"There is a design, and it presses," the man answered in a low voice, and as if he chose his words with care. "It will be executed within the month. If it succeed, and my lord be still where he is, and unreconciled, I know no head will fall so certainly. Not Lord Middleton's influence, no, nor yours, my lady, will save him."
"What, and my Lord Marlborough escape?"