"I will withdraw, sir," said Terence.

But Wellington detained him. "Since Dom Miguel asked for you, you
had better remain, perhaps."

"It is the adjutant-general Dom Miguel desires to see, and I am
adjutant-general no longer."

"Still, the matter may concern you. I have a notion that it may
be concerned with the death of Count Samoval, since I have
acquainted the Council of Regency with the treason practised by
the Count. You had better remain."

Gloomy and downcast, Sir Terence remained as he was bidden.

The sleek and supple Secretary of State was ushered in. He came
forward quickly, clicked his heels together and bowed to the three
men present.

"Sirs, your obedient servant," he announced himself, with a
courtliness almost out of fashion, speaking in his extraordinarily
fluent English. His sallow countenance was extremely grave. He
seemed even a little ill at ease.

"I am fortunate to find you here, my lord. The matter upon which
I seek your adjutant-general is of considerable gravity - so much
that of himself he might be unable to resolve it. I feared you
might already have departed for the north."