"They say you spoke very well. I suppose you promised them everything
they wanted--from the crown downward?"

"Yes--all the usual harmless things," said Ashe.

Madame d'Estrées laughed; then looked at him across the top of her fan.

"Well!--and what else?"

"You can't wait for your newspaper?" he said, smiling, after a moment's
pause.

She shrugged her shoulders good-humoredly.

"Oh! I _know_--of course I know. Is it as good as you expected?"

"As good as--" The young man opened his mouth in wonder. "What right
had I to expect anything?"

"How modest! All the same, they want you--and they're very glad to get
you. But you can't save them."

"That's not generally expected of Under-Secretaries, is it?"

"A good deal's expected of _you_. I talked to Lord Parham about you last
night."

William Ashe flushed a little.

"Did you? Very kind of you."