In his youth, Lord Saxham had been an attaché at the Spanish Court, and he knew the ropes. Guy listened respectfully to his father.
The old man concluded his somewhat rambling remarks with a final exhortation.
“And remember, my dear boy, always to keep on the right side of Greatorex. He is the Foreign Office. Secretaries, mere figure-heads, come and go with different Governments. Greatorex remains there, permanent, unchangeable. Get into his good graces, and your fortune is made.”
Guy promised that he would do his best to propitiate the all-powerful Greatorex. Two days later he left. He undertook to pay them a farewell visit before he started for Spain.
The Earl and his daughter watched the car flying down the avenue. The old man turned to his daughter with a grunt.
“Might have given us another couple of days, I think. But I know what’s in his mind. He is running down to Eastbourne after that minx.”
He always alluded to Isobel Clandon as “that minx,” owing to his unreasonable prejudice against her.
Mary spoke with spirit.
“Very natural under the circumstances, I should think. He would want to see something of the girl he loves before he left.”
Lord Saxham turned on her angrily.