Wilders. "Cannot you even give me the
pleasure of your society for an hour or two without its being known?"
"I do it in this way, dear lady. I leave a sealed envelope on my hall
table, which is only opened in case of urgency."
"You don't expect to be summoned to-night, I hope?" inquired the fair
hostess.
"I cannot say; it is quite probable."
"There are, perhaps, important movements intended in the Crimea?"
asked Mr. Hobson, as he picked his strawberries and prepared himself a
sauce of sugar and cream.
"You have heard so?" replied Mr. Faulks.
"There was something in the _Times_ this morning from their special
correspondent. Some new expedition was talked of."
"They ought to be all shot, these correspondents," said Mr. Faulks,
decisively. "They permit themselves to canvass the conduct and
character of persons of our position with a freedom that is
intolerable."
"Pardon me," said Mr. Hobson, "but as one of the British public, a
taxpayer and bearer of the public burden, I feel grateful to these
newspaper gentlemen for seeing that our money is properly spent."
"I am sorry to hear you commend them," said Mr. Faulks, in a way that
implied much resentment.
"Well, but without them we should hear of nothing that is going on.
This new expedition, for instance, which I have a shrewd suspicion
covers some deep design.
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