“You must see Mr. Hammil. Till you see Mr. Hammil, you need n't come to me.” “Very well, my Lord,” said I, moving towards the door. “Wait a moment. You know Italy well, I am told. Do you know Cavour?” “No, my Lord,” said I. “Ah! They say he over-eats; have you heard that?” “I can't say that I have, my Lord; but my acquaintance with Italy and with Italians is very slight, indeed.” “Why did they recommend you, then, for this affair? I told Gresson that I wanted a man who could have ready access to their public men, who knew Balbi, Gino Capponi, Ricasoli, and the rest of them. Now, sir, how is it possible, without intimacy with these men and their opinions, that you could write such leading articles as I suggested in, their papers? How could you ever get admission to the columns of the 'Opinione' and the 'Perseveranza,' eh? Answer me that.” “I am afraid, my Lord, there is some grave misunderstanding here. I never dreamed of proposing myself for such a difficult task. I came here on a totally different mission. It was to take your Lordship's orders about the ransom and rescue of a young Englishman who has been captured by the brigands in Southern Italy--” “That scamp, St. John. A very different business, indeed. Why, sir, they value him at one thousand pounds, and I 'll venture to assert that his friends--if that be the name of the people who know him--would call him a dear bargain at twenty. I'm certain his own father would say so; but, poor fellow, he is very ill, and can't talk on this or any other matter just now. Lady Mary, however, insists on his release, and we must see what can be done. You know the habits and ways of these rascals,--these brigands,--don't you?” “No, my Lord; nothing whatever about them.” “Then, in Heaven's name, sir, what do you know?” “Very little about anything, my Lord, I must confess; but as I am sorely pushed to find a livelihood, and don't fancy being a burden to my friends, I told Mr. Gresson, this morning, that I was quite ready to undertake the mission if I should be intrusted with it; and that, so far as bail or security went, my uncle Rankin, of Rankin and Bates, would unquestionably afford it.” “Ah, this is very different, indeed,” said he, ponderingly, and with a look of compassionate interest I had not thought his face capable of. “Gone too fast, perhaps; have been hit hard at Doncaster or Goodwood?” “No, my Lord; I never betted. I started with a few thousand pounds and lost them in a speculation.” “Well, well. I have no right to enter into these things. Go and see Mr. Temple, the financial clerk. Take this to him, and see what he says to you. If he is satisfied, come down to the House to-night. But stay! You ought to start this evening, oughtn't you?” “I believe, my Lord, the time is very short. They require the money to be paid by the twelfth.”