The duke sighed--and whilst Lord Oldborough drew out, opened, and read the first letter in the parcel, his grace went on--“This affair has thrown us all into the greatest consternation. It is to be brought before parliament immediately--unless a resignation should take place--which we should all deplore. The impudence, the inveteracy of that fellow, is astonishing--no silencing him. We might hush up the affair if his majesty had not been apprised; but where the interest of the service is concerned, his majesty is warm.” “His majesty!” cried Lord Oldborough: “His majesty could not, I trust, for a moment imagine these letters to be I mine?” “But for the hand and seal which I understood your lordship to acknowledge, I am persuaded his majesty could not have believed it.” “Believed! My king! did he believe it?” cried Lord Oldborough. His agitation was for a moment excessive, uncontrollable. “No! that I will never credit, till I have it from his own lips.” Then commanding himself, “Your grace will have the goodness to leave these letters with me till to-morrow.” His grace, with infinite politeness and regret, was under the necessity of refusing this request. His orders were only to show the letters to his lordship, and then to restore them to the hands of the member of opposition who had laid them before his majesty. Lord Oldborough took off the cover of one of the letters, on which was merely the address and seal. The address was written also at the bottom of the letter enclosed, therefore the cover could not be of the least importance. The duke could not, Lord Oldborough said, refuse to leave this with him. To this his grace agreed--protesting that he was far from wishing to make difficulties. If there were any thing else he could do--any thing his lordship would wish to have privately insinuated or publicly said-- His lordship, with proud thanks, assured the duke he did not wish to have any thing privately insinuated; and whatever it was necessary to say or do publicly, he should do himself, or give orders to have done. His lordship entered into no farther explanation. The duke at last was obliged to take his leave, earnestly hoping and trusting that this business would terminate to his lordship’s entire satisfaction. No sooner was the duke gone than Lord Oldborough rang for his carriage. “Immediately--and Mr. Temple, instantly.”