The Cabinet Minister Part 17

Ah, yes. Oh, let me, Lady Twombley! I don't ask to be confided in, I only ask to be allowed to bring my brother to see you--to-night--to-morrow.

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Your brother?

MRS. GAYl.u.s.tRE.

Mr. Lebanon--my Joseph. I would trust him as I'd trust myself. I have known him do such things in the way of raising money upon what he calls personal and other security----

LADY TWOMBLEY.

A money-lender?

MRS. GAYl.u.s.tRE.

Lady Twombley! Oh!

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Does Mr. Lebanon help--people--in difficulties?

MRS. GAYl.u.s.tRE.

Oh, doesn't he!

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Oh!

MRS. GAYl.u.s.tRE.

Will you see him, Lady Twombley?

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Don't ask me. Perhaps.

MRS. GAYl.u.s.tRE.

To-night?

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Perhaps, I tell you.

MRS. GAYl.u.s.tRE.

At what time? LADY TWOMBLEY.

Half-past nine--sharp.

MRS. GAYl.u.s.tRE.

[To herself.] Done!

[SIR JULIAN enters with LADY MACPHAIL, MACPHAIL, and the DOWAGER. BROOKE follows with DRUMDURRIS, then after an interval LADY EUPHEMIA, EGIDIA, and IMOGEN appear.]

SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.

[To LADY TWOMBLEY, reprovingly.] My dear, Lady Macphail and Sir Colin are going.

DOWAGER.

[To LADY TWOMBLEY.] You are neglecting them. What can be your motive?

LADY TWOMBLEY.

[To LADY MACPHAIL.] I hope Sir Julian has explained----

LADY MACPHAIL.

Certainly. But I must take my boy away. He dines at six to avoid late hours.

[IMOGEN talks to MACPHAIL.]

DOWAGER.

[Quietly to LADY TWOMBLEY.] Look! they are talking.

LADY MACPHAIL.

Colin rises at five every morning.

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Dear me, how awful!

LADY MACPHAIL.

He loves to watch the sunrise from the jagged summit of Ben-na-fechan.

LADY TWOMBLEY.

But there's no Ben-na-what-you-may-call-it here.

LADY MACPHAIL.

No. But he sits upon the roof of our lodgings in Clarges Street.

Good-bye, Lady Twombley.