in some documents. On studying the young gentleman closely, one could, as it

were, appreciate the difficulty experienced by his lordship - and indeed, by the

young gentleman's father. My employer's godson looked an earnest, scholarly

young man, and one could see many fine qualities in his features; yet given the

topic one wished to raise, one would have certainly preferred a lighter-hearted,

even a more frivolous sort of young gentleman. In any case, resolved to bring

the whole matter to a satisfactory conclusion as quickly as possible, I

proceeded further into the library, and stopping a little way from Mr Cardinal's

writing desk, gave a cough.

 

"Excuse me, sir, but I have a message to convey to you."

 

"Oh, really?" Mr Cardinal said eagerly, looking up from his papers.

 

"From Father?"

 

"Yes, sir. That is, effectively."

 

"Just a minute."

 

The young gentleman reached down into the attaché case at his feet and brought

out a notebook and pencil. "Fire away, Stevens."

 

I coughed again and set my voice into as impersonal a tone as I could manage.