‘You’d be the first to beg us to come back again.’ ‘Doubtless, as the Greeks are begging the Turks. Eh, mademoiselle; can you fancy throwing yourself at the feet of a Pasha and asking leave to be his slave?’ ‘The only Greek slave I ever heard of,’ said Lockwood, ‘was in marble and made by an American.’ ‘Come into the drawing-room and I’ll sing you something,’ said Nina, rising. ‘Which will be far nicer and pleasanter than all this discussion,’ said Joe. ‘And if you’ll permit me,’ said Lockwood, ‘we’ll leave the drawing-room door open and let poor Walpole hear the music.’ ‘Would it not be better first to see if he’s asleep?’ said she. ‘That’s true. I’ll step up and see.’ Lockwood hurried away, and Joe Atlee, leaning back in his chair, said, ‘Well, we gave the Saxon a canter, I think. As you know, Dick, that fellow is no end of a swell.’ ‘You know nothing about him,’ said the other gruffly. ‘Only so much as newspapers could tell me. He’s Master of the Horse in the Viceroy’s household, and the other fellow is Private Secretary, and some connection besides. I say, Dick, it’s all King James’s times back again. There has not been so much grandeur here for six or eight generations.’ ‘There has not been a more absurd speech made than that, within the time.’ ‘And he is really somebody?’ said Nina to Atlee. ‘A _gran signore davvero_,’ said he pompously. ‘If you don’t sing your very best for him, I’ll swear you are a republican.’ ‘Come, take my arm, Nina. I may call you Nina, may I not?’ whispered Kearney. ‘Certainly, if I may call you Joe.’ ‘You may, if you like,’ said he roughly, ‘but my name is Dick.’ ‘I am Beppo, and very much at your orders,’ said Atlee, stepping forward and leading her away. CHAPTER XIV AT DINNER They were assembled in the drawing-room before dinner, when Lord Kilgobbin arrived, heated, dusty, and tired, after his twelve miles’ drive. ‘I say, girls,’ said he, putting his head inside the door, ‘is it true that our distinguished guest is not coming down to dinner, for, if so, I’ll not wait to dress?’ ‘No, papa; he said he’d stay with Mr. Walpole. They’ve been receiving and despatching telegrams all day, and seem to have the whole world on their hands,’ said Kate. ‘Well, sir, what did you do at the sessions?’ ‘Yes, my lord,’ broke in Nina, eager to show her more mindful regard to his rank than Atlee displayed; ‘tell us your news?’