"It was not his
fault, and he has the country to think of. You tell him so. Now, are
you off?"
Marsham replied that his fly had been announced.
"What'll they offer you?" said Chide, abruptly.
"Offer me? It doesn't much matter, does it?--on a day like this?"
Marsham's tone was equally curt. Then he added: "I shall be here again
to-morrow."
Chide acquiesced. When Marsham had driven off, and as the sound of the
wheels died away, Chide uttered a fierce inarticulate sound. His hot
Irish heart swelled within him. He walked hurriedly to and fro, his
hands in his pockets.
"John!--John!" he groaned. "They'll be dancing and triumphing on your
grave to-night, John; and that fellow you were a father to--like the
rest. But they shall do it without me, John--they shall do it
without me!"
And he thought, with a grim satisfaction, of the note he had just
confided to the Premier's second messenger refusing the offer of the
Attorney-Generalship. He was sorry for Broadstone; he had done his best
to comfort him; but he would serve in no Government with John's
supplanters.
* * * * *
Meanwhile Marsham was speeding up to town.
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