"I only arrived this morning," the other replied; "and hoped to present my respects this evening, if your Father and the Lady Barbara will receive me." "Indeed, they’ll be delighted. _Cela va sans dire_, my friend. My sister has been rather pensive of late. Your prolonged absence may have had something to do with her mood." "May you speak the truth there!" my Lord Stour remarked with a sigh. "But now you have not told me," rejoined Lord Douglas, as he and his friend finally went into the room and curtly acknowledged Mr. Baggs’ reiterated salutations, "what hath brought you to the house of this bobbing old Thief yonder." "Private business," replied Lord Stour. "And you?" "The affairs of England," said the other, and tossed his head proudly like some young Lion scenting battle. Before his friend could utter another remark, Lord Douglas strode rapidly across the room, took some papers out of the inner pocket of his coat, and called to Mr. Baggs to come up closer to him. "I want," he said in a quick and peremptory whisper, "a dozen copies of this Deed done at once and by a sure hand. Can you do it?" "Yes, I think so," replied Mr. Baggs. "May I see what the paper is?" I was watching the pair of them; so was my Lord Stour. On his face there came a sudden frown as of disapproval and anxiety. "Wychwoode——!" he began. But the other did not heed him. His eyes—which were so like those of his Sister—were fixed with an eager, questioning gaze upon my Employer. The latter’s face was absolutely expressionless and inscrutable whilst he scanned the paper which Lord Douglas, after a scarce perceptible moment of hesitation, had handed to him for perusal. "Yes," he said quietly, when he had finished reading. "It can be done." "At once?" asked Lord Douglas. "At once. Yes, my Lord." "By a sure hand?" "Discretion, my Lord," replied Mr. Baggs, with the first show of dignity I have ever seen him display, "is a virtue in my profession, the failing in which would be a lasting disgrace." "I rely even more upon your convictions, Mr. Baggs," Lord Douglas rejoined earnestly, "than upon your virtues." "You and your friends, my Lord, have deigned to talk those matters over with me many a time before. You and they know that You can count on me."