“Leslie,” said the minister, sealing a note, “take this back to Lord ----, and say that I shall be with him in an hour.”
“No other message?—he seemed to expect one.”
“I dare say he did. Well, my letter is official, my message is not; beg him to see Mr. —— before we meet—he will understand—all rests upon that interview.”
Egerton then, extending the letter, resumed gravely, “Of course you will not mention to any one that Dr. F. was with me: the health of public men is not to be suspected. Hum—were you in your own room or the ante-room?”
“The ante-room, sir.”
Egerton’s brow contracted slightly.
“And Mr. Levy was there, eh?”
“Yes—the Baron.”
“Baron! true. Come to plague me about the Mexican loan, I suppose. I will keep you no longer.”
Randal, much meditating, left the house, and re-entered his hack cab. The Baron was admitted to the statesman’s presence.