She looked up with animation, broke off her talk with two elderly
diplomats who seemed to have taken possession of her, and beckoned Ashe
to a seat beside her.
"So you're in? Was it a hard fight?"
"A hard fight? Oh no! One would have had to be a great fool not to get
in."
"They say you spoke very well. I suppose you promised them everything
they wanted--from the crown downward?"
"Yes--all the usual harmless things," said Ashe.
Madame d'Estrees laughed; then looked at him across the top of her fan.
"Well!--and what else?"
"You can't wait for your newspaper?" he said, smiling, after a moment's
pause.
She shrugged her shoulders good-humoredly.
"Oh! I
know--of course I know. Is it as good as you expected?"
"As good as--" The young man opened his mouth in wonder. "What right
had I to expect anything?"
"How modest! All the same, they want you--and they're very glad to get
you. But you can't save them."
"That's not generally expected of Under-Secretaries, is it?"
"A good deal's expected of
you. I talked to Lord Parham about you last
night."
William Ashe flushed a little.
"Did you? Very kind of you.
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