Refusals of the most unexpected kind, from the most
unlikely quarters; letters and visits of protest from persons impossible
to ignore--most of them, no doubt, engineered by Lord Philip; "finally
the newspapers of this morning--especially the article in the _Herald_,
which you will have seen before this reaches you--all these, taken
together, convince me that if I cannot persuade you to see the matter in
the same light as I do--and I know well that, whether you accept or
refuse, you will put the public advantage first--I must at once inform
her Majesty that my attempt to construct a Government has broken down."
Marsham followed her version of the letter as well as he could; and as
she turned the last page, he too perceived the pencilled writing, which
was not Broadstone's. This she did not offer to communicate; indeed, she
covered it at once with her hand.
"Yes, I suppose it was the shock," he said, in a low voice. "But it was
not Broadstone's fault. It was no one's fault."
Lady Lucy flushed and looked up.
"That man Barrington!" she said, vehemently. "Oh, if I had never had him
in my house!"
Oliver made no reply. He sat beside her, staring at the grass.
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