His lordship's eyes flashed round upon O'Moy. "Ah yes!" he said.
"What is your feeling in this matter, 'O'Moy?" he inquired, his
tone and manner void of all expression.

Sir Terence faltered; then stiffened. "I - The matter is one that
only your lordship can decide. I have no wish to influence your
decision."

"I see. Ha! And you, Grant? No doubt you agree with Dom Miguel?"

"Most emphatically - upon every count, sir," replied the intelligence
officer without hesitation. "I think Dom Miguel offers an excellent
bargain. And, as he says, we hold a guarantee of its fulfilment."

"The bargain might be improved," said Wellington slowly.

"If your lordship will tell me how, the Council, I am sure, will
be ready to do all that lies in its power to satisfy you."

Wellington shifted his chair round a little, and crossed his legs.
He brought his finger-tips together, and over the top of them his
eyes considered the Secretary of State.

"Your Excellency has spoken of expediency - political expediency.
Sometimes political expediency can overreach itself and perpetrate
the most grave injustices. Individuals at times are unnecessarily
called upon to suffer in the interests of a cause. Your Excellency
will remember a certain affair at Tavora some two months ago - the
invasion of a convent by a British officer with rather disastrous
consequences and the loss of some lives."