The Cabinet Minister rose in his place and held out his hand in his
best official style, a discrete mixture of reserve and condescension.
His manner changed, however, the moment the door was closed. He
withdrew his hand, which the other had made no attempt to grasp.

"I am according you the interview you desire," he said, pointing to a
chair, "but I shall be glad if you will explain the purport of your
visit in as few words as possible. You will, I hope, appreciate the
fact that your presence here is a matter of grave embarrassment to
me."

Mr. Sidney bowed. He was a tall and apparently an elderly man,
dressed with the utmost sobriety. He accepted the chair without undue
haste, adjusted a pair of horn-rimmed spectacles and took some papers
from his pocket.

"Sir," he began, speaking deliberately but without any foreign
accent, "I am here to make certain proposals to you on behalf of a
person who at your own request shall be nameless."

Lord Romsey frowned ponderously and tapped the desk by his side with
his thick forefinger.

"I cannot prevent your speaking, of course," he said, "but I wish you
to understand from the first that I am not in a position to deal with
any messages or communications from your master, whoever he may be,
or any one else in your country."

"Nevertheless," the other remarked drily, "my message must be