It was ten o'clock at night when Dunton arrived and was shown into Lowther's rooms. Dunton's story of Westerham was brief and to the point.
At its conclusion the Premier bowed his head. “I capitulate, Sir Paul,” he said, “and I will tell you my secret.”
Dunton nodded approval and walked out of the room, leaving Westerham and the Prime Minister alone.
[CHAPTER XXII
THE PREMIERE'S STORY]
I have to confess that quite unintentionally I did my Government and my country a great wrong. In spite of all my very considerable experience, I did not see at the time the danger into which I was drifting, and I had gone too far to draw back when I realised with a shock the awful position in which I had placed myself.
As you know, I was drafted into the Ministry through an rather unusual channel. It is not often that a diplomat forsakes diplomacy to take part in politics. An extraordinary combination of events, however, contrived to place me in a curious position, with the result that great influence was brought to bear on me to give up the Embassy of which I was in charge, and return to England to take up a minor position in the Cabinet.
Probably, in spite of the influence which was exerted, I should never have consented to do this but for the fact that I knew the minor position I was offered was merely a temporary one. I was given to understand clearly that it was but a stepping-stone to the Premiership. So I decided to accept the office.
Now the country from which I returned was Russia. I was, as you may possibly remember, Ambassador at St. Petersburg.