set, the commissioner began with all possible skill and dexterity to trim
his boat. But dexterous trimmer though he was, and "prescient of change,"
he did yet not foresee from what quarter the storm would come.

Count Altenberg's letters had unveiled completely the envoy Cunningham
Falconer's treachery, as far as it related to his intrigues abroad, and
other friends detected some of his manoeuvres with politicians at home, to
whom he had endeavoured to pay court, by betraying confidence reposed in
him respecting the Tourville papers. Much of the mischief Cunningham had
done this great minister still operated, unknown to his unsuspicious mind:
but sufficient was revealed to determine Lord Oldborough to dismiss him
from all future hopes of his favour.

"Mr. Commissioner Falconer," he began one morning, the moment the
commissioner entered his cabinet, "Mr. Commissioner Falconer," in a tone
which instantly dispelled the smile at entrance from the commissioner's
countenance, and in the same moment changed his whole configurature.
"My confidence is withdrawn from your son, Mr. Cunningham Falconer--for
ever--and not without good reason--as you may--if you are not aware of it
already--see, by those papers."

Lord Oldborough turned away, and asked his secretaries for his red box, as
he was going to council.

Just as he left his cabinet, he looked back, and said, "Mr. Falconer, you
should know, if you be not already apprised of it, that your son Cunningham
is on his road to Denmark. You should be aware that the journey is not made
by my desire, or by his majesty's order, or by any official authority;
consequently he is travelling to the court of Denmark at his own expense
or yours--unless he can prevail upon his Grace of Greenwich to defray his