"By the bye, Swinton," said the baronet, as if to terminate the awkward scene by obliging the borrower in a more business-like way, "why don't you try to get something from the Government? Excuse a fellaw for taking the liberty; but it seems to me, a man of your accomplishments ought to stand a chance."

"Not the slightest, Sir Robert! I have no interest; and if I had, there's that ugly affair that got me out of the Guards. You know the story; and therefore I needn't tell it you. That would be sure to come up if I made any application."

"All stuff, my dear fellaw! Don't let that stand in your way. It might, if you wanted to get into the Household, or be made a bishop.

You don't aspire to either, I presume?"

The ex-guardsman gave a lugubrious laugh.

"No!" he said. "I'd be contented with something less. Just now my ambition don't soar extravagantly high."

"Suppose you try Lord --, who has Government influence? In these troublous times there's no end of employment, and for men whose misfortunes don't need to be called to remembrance. Yours won't stand in the way. I know his lordship personally. He's not at all exacting."

"You know him, Sir Robert?"

"Intimately. And if I'm not mistaken, he's just the man to serve you; that is, by getting you some appointment? The diplomatic service has grown wonderfully, since the breaking out of these revolutions. More especially the _secret_ branch of it. I've reason to know that enormous sums are now spent upon it. Then, why shouldn't _you_ try to get a pull out of the secret service chest?"

Swinton relit his pipe, and sat cogitating.

"A pipe don't become a guardsman," jokingly remarked his guest. "The favourites of the Foreign Office smoke only regalias."

Swinton received this sally with a smile, that showed the dawning of a new hope.

"Take one?" continued the baronet, presenting his gold-clasped case.

Swinton pitched the briar-root aside, and set fire to the cigar.

"You are right, Sir Robert," he said; "I ought to try for something.

It's very good of you to give me the advice. But how am I to follow it?

I have no acquaintance with the nobleman you speak of; nor have any of my friends."

"Then you don't count me as one of them?"

"Dear Cottrell! Don't talk that way! After what's passed between us, I should be an ungrateful fellow if I didn't esteem you as the first of them--perhaps the only friend I have left."

"Well, I've spoken plainly. Haven't I said that I know Lord--well enough to give you a letter of introduction to him? I won't say it will serve any purpose; you must take your chances of that. I can only promise that he will receive you; and if you're not _too particular_ as to the nature of the employment, I think he may get you something. You understand me, Swinton?"

"I particular! Not likely, Sir Robert, living in this mean room, with the remembrance of that luxurious breakfast I've just eaten--myself and my poor wife!"

"Aw--by the way, I owe madam an apology for having so long neglected to ask after her. I hope she is well?"

"Thank you! Well as the dear child can be expected, with such trouble upon us."

"Shall I not have the pleasure of seeing her?"

The visitor asked the question without any pretence of indifference. He felt it--just then, not desiring to encounter her in such company.

"I shall see, Sir Robert," replied the husband, rising from his chair, and going toward the bedroom. "I rather suspect Fan's _en dishabille_ at this hour."

Sir Robert secretly hoped that she was. Under the circumstances, an interview with her could only be awkward.

His wish was realised. She was not only _en dishabille_, but in bed-- with a sick headache! She begged that the baronet would excuse her from making appearance!

This was the report brought back from the bedroom by her go-between of a husband. It remained only for the visitor to make good his promise about the letter of introduction.

He drew up to the table, and wrote it out, _currente calamo_.

He did not follow the usual fashion, by leaving the envelope open.

There was a clause or two in the letter he did not desire the ex-guardsman to become acquainted with. It concluded with the words: "_Mr Swinton is a gentleman who would suit for any service your lordship may be pleased to obtain for him. He is a disappointed man_..."

Wetting the gum with the tip of his aristocratic tongue, he closed the envelope, and handed the epistle to his host.

"I know," said he, "Lord A--will be glad to serve you. You might see him at the Foreign Office; but don't go there. There are too many fellaws hanging about, who had better not know what you're after. Take it to his lordship's private residence in Park Lane. In a case like yours, I know he'd prefer receiving you there. You had better go at once. There are so many chances of your being forestalled--a host of applicants hungering for something of the same. His lordship is likely to be at home about three in the afternoon. I'll call here soon after to learn how you've prospered. Bye, my dear fellaw! good-bye!"

Re-gloving his slender aristocratic fingers, the baronet withdrew-- leaving the ex-guardsman in possession of an epistle that might have much influence on his future fate.

CHAPTER FORTY ONE.

A SCENE IN PARK LANE.

In Park Lane, as all know, fronting upon Hyde Park, are some of the finest residences in London. They are mansions, mostly inhabited by England's aristocracy; many of them by the proudest of its nobility.

On that same day on which Sir Robert Cottrell had paid his unintentional visit to Mr Richard Swinton, at the calling hour of the afternoon an open park phaeton, drawn by a pair of stylish ponies, with "flowing manes and tails," might have been seen driving along Park Lane, and drawing up in front of one of its splendid mansions, well-known to be that of a nobleman of considerable distinction among his class.

The ribbons were held by a gentleman who appeared capable of manipulating them; by his side a lady equally suitable to the equipage; while an appropriate boy in top-boots and buttons occupied the back seat.

Though the gentleman was young and handsome, the lady young and beautiful, and the groom carefully got up, an eye, skilled in livery decoration, could have told the turn-out to be one hired for the occasion.

It was hired, and by Richard Swinton; for it was he who wielded the whip, and his wife who gave grace to the equipage.

The ponies were guided with such skill that when checked up in front of the nobleman's residence, the phaeton stood right under the drawing-room windows.

In this there was a design.

The groom, skipping like a grasshopper from his perch, glided up the steps, rang the bell, and made the usual inquiry.

His lordship was "at home."

"You take the reins, Fan," said Swinton, stepping out of the phaeton.

"Keep a tight hold on them, and don't let the ponies move from the spot they're in--not so much as an inch!"

Without comprehending the object of this exact order, Fan promised to obey it.

The remembrance of mare than one scene, in which she had succumbed to her husband's violence, secured compliance with his request.

Having made it, the ex-guardsman ascended the steps, presented his card, and was shown into the drawing-room.