"Only, madam, what I said before," he answered smoothly and gravely; "my lord's secession is no longer in issue. The question is how he may be brought back into the path of loyalty. To be frank, he is not of the stuff of those, whom your ladyship knows, who will readily lick both sides of the trencher. And so, without some little pressure, he will not be brought back. But were he once committed to the good cause, either by an indiscretion on his own part, if he could be induced to that----" "Which he cannot, man, he cannot," she struck in impatiently. "He made one slip, and he will make no second." "True, madam," the man answered. "Then there remains only the way which does not depend on him; and which I before indicated; some ruse which may lead both the friends and enemies of the good cause to think him committed to it. Afterwards, this opinion being brought to his notice, and with it, the possibility of clearing himself to the satisfaction both of St. Germain's and St. James's, he would, I think, come over." "'Tis a long way round," said madam, dryly. "It is a long way to Rome, madam," said the man, with meaning in his voice. She nodded and shifted uneasily in her seat. "You think that the one means the other?" she said at last. "I do, madam. But there is a new point, which has just arisen." "A new point! What?" "There is a design, and it presses," the man answered in a low voice, and as if he chose his words with care. "It will be executed within the month. If it succeed, and my lord be still where he is, and unreconciled, I know no head will fall so certainly. Not Lord Middleton's influence, no, nor yours, my lady, will save him." "What, and my Lord Marlborough escape?" "Yes, madam, for he has made his peace, and proved his sincerity." "I believe it," she said, grimly. "He is the devil. And his wife is like unto him. But there's Sidney Godolphin--what of him?" "He has made his peace, madam." "Russell?" "The same, madam, and given proofs." "But, odds my soul, sir," she cried, sharply and pettishly, "if everybody is of one mind, where does it stick that the king does not come over?" "On a life, madam," Smith answered, letting each word fall slowly, as if it were a jewel. "One life intervenes." "Ha!" she said, sitting up and looking straight before her. "Sits the wind in that quarter? Well, I thought so." "And therefore time presses." "Still, man," she said, "our family has done much for the throne; and his Gracious Majesty has----" "Has many virtues, my lady, but he is not forgiving," quoth the tempter, coolly.