Part 13 (1/2)
”I told you we should meet, and really I should like to tell him how sorry I was for him”
”I fancy,” said I, ”that the count will hardly think a return to that little corner of history desirable”
”Even,” said Merton, laughing, ”with the belated consolation of the penitence of successful crime”
”But I am not, I never was penitent I was only sorry”
”Well,” said I, ”you will never have the chance to confess your regret”
I rong A week later the countess left cards for uests, and an invitation to dine followed If Merton hesitated, Mrs Merton did not, and expecting to find a large official dinner, we agreed aenerous and that we ht be e in his own house the man she had so seriously injured, Merton and I were at ease, seeing that ere entirely unknown to the count as having been receivers of the property which so mysteriously disappeared
We were met by the count and Madame le Moyne with the utuests All of those thus brought together h the aardness of the occasion to ht feeling of aloofness natural to a situation unmatched in htful, the reeable _lever du rideau_, and I knew it for that when, at a word from the count, the servants left us at the close of the , he turned to Mrs Merton and said:
”Perhaps,you all here and alone I had ree you object to , and,” he added gaily, ”we shall then chat of Rachel and the June exhibition of tulips”
It was neatly done, and Mrs Merton at once replied: ”I wish to say for myself that I have for years desired to talk freely with you of what is no doubt in your mind just now”
”Thank you,” he returned; ”and if no one else objects,”--and no one did,--”I er desire to ask you certain questions, my wife has had, for years, what I may call chronic curiosity”
”Oh, at times acute!” cried the countess
”Her curiosity is, as you ard to certain matters connected with that mysterious diplomatic affair in the autumn of 1862 It cost me pretty dear”
”And me,” said the countess, ”many tears”
Mrs Merton's face became serious She was about to speak, when the count added: ”Pardon me I auests, and if, on reflection, you feel that our very natural curiosity ought to die a natural death, ill dismiss the matter Tell me, would you prefer to drop it?”
”Oh, no I, too, a to her husband, ”Arthur, I am sure you will be as well pleased as I”
Merton said: ”I am entirely at your service, count How is it, Greville?”
”But,” said the count, interposing, ”what has M Greville to do with it, except as we know that his legation profited by hed Mrs Merton, ”interference There is nothing so a, ”I, too, had a trifling share in the business
Let us all agree to be frank and to consider as confidential for some years to come e hear I am as curious as the countess”
”And no wonder,” said the count ”Of course enough got out to make every _chancellerie_ in Europe wonder how Mr Adams was able to report the opinions and even the words of the en secretary to Lord John”
”Well,” said Mrs Merton, ”I ahtful inquisition Pray go on I shall be frank”
”To begin with, I may presume that you took those papers”
”Stole them,” said Mrs Merton