"What an unexpected pleasure, Mr. Ferdinand," exclaimed the widow, laughing.
"What a thing it is to be a diplomatist, and to be able to say so much in just two words. But I can be frank. I mean unexpected to you, of course. Mercy told me you were actually going away on your wanderings without saying good-bye to me--and I wasn't going to stand that. When some stupid mountain or other wouldn't go to Mahomet, Mahomet went to the mountain--like the very sensible person he was. And it was all the same in the end."
"That 'stupid mountain' had no sister to give it away, Mrs. Curwen."
"Mercy's just the dearest friend I have in the world. And now sit down and don't be disagreeable, and we'll have a jolly cosy little chat together, and you shall hear the news and advise us. What's the good of being an ambassador if you can't advise us?"
"Here's your tea, Nand;" and Mercy handed it me with a glance, asking for forgiveness. I accepted the tea and the situation, as I do most good things in this world, complacently.
"I want to know whether you think it would be quite a safe thing for Mercy to go to Madrid for a time, say--a month or two hence?"
Mercy looked down at the tea cups and laughed. I appeared to consider.
"Yes," I said, slowly. "Yes; but I am afraid my father is not contemplating a trip of the kind. You see, his health is not of the best, and his engagements--" I was interrupted by a peal of laughter from the widow.
"You are the drollest creature!" she cried. "Who said anything about Lord Glisfoyle?"
"I don't fancy Cello has much notion of going out either--at least, not yet," and I pointed this with a look. "And you see, Mercy could hardly come out to me alone."
"Mercy, I do believe he'll make a diplomatist after all. He talks that nonsense with such a perfectly solemn face," exclaimed Mrs. Curwen. "I suppose, Mr. Ferdinand, you haven't the ghost of an idea what I mean, have you? or what we've been planning."
"How could I? But if you have any idea of Mercy coming out to Madrid with anyone but my father or Cello, I should say at once it would be quite unsafe, and quite impracticable. There are a hundred reasons; but one's enough--the equivocal position of the whole Spanish question, owing to the unsettled relations with America."