"Oh, I had forgotten. It completely escaped me," said Balfour, with a pretended confusion. "Will you once more take a turn in the garden, Pem?--five minutes will do all I want."
"If my retirement is to facilitate Mr. Heffernan's advance, it would be ungracious to defer it; but give me till to-morrow to think of it."
"I only spoke of going into the garden, my dear Pem."
"I will do more,--I will take my leave. Indeed, I have important business in the Rolls Court."
"I shall want to see you about this business," said the other, touching the despatch.
"I'll look in on you about five-at the office, and by that time you'll have seen Mr. F."
"Mr. Heffernan could not wait, sir,--he has to open a Record case in the Queen's Bench," said the Secretary, entering, "but he says he will write to you this evening."
The Solicitor-General grinned. He fancied that the whole incident had been a most unfortunate _malapropos_, and that Balfour was sinking under shame and confusion.
"How I wish Baron Lendrick could be induced to retire!" said Balfour; "it would save us a world of trouble."
"The matter has little interest for me personally."
"I mean what I say; but I mean also not to be questioned upon the matter," said he, proudly. "If, however, you are so very eager about it, there is a way I believe it might be done."
"I had a talk, a half-confidential talk, last night with Sewell on the subject, and he distinctly gave me to understand it could be negotiated through _him_."
"Yes, I believed him. It was the sort of tortuous, crooked transaction such a man might well move in. Had he told me of something very fine, very generous or self-devoting, he was about to do, I 'd have hesitated to accord him my trustfulness."
"What it is to be a lawyer!" said Balfour, with affected horror.
"What it must be if a Secretary of State recoils from his perfidy! Oh, Mr. Balfour, for the short time our official connection may last let us play fair! I am not so coldblooded, nor are you as crafty, as you imagine. We are both of us better than we seem."
"To-morrow, then?--I'll have Branley and Keppel to meet you."
"I always get out of town on Saturday night. Pray excuse me."
"Not in that way, certainly. Good-bye till five o'clock."