said; a faint question from the Minister as to
what the dish contained and a whispered reply constituted most of the
talk, and an occasional cold recommendation to me to try this or that
_entree_. It was admirable in all its details, the cookery exquisite,
the wines delicious, but there was an oppression in the solemnity of
it all that made me sigh repeatedly. Had the butler been serving a
high mass, his motions at the sideboard could scarcely have been more
reverential.

"If you don't object to the open air, we 'll take our coffee on the
terrace," said his Excellency; and we soon found ourselves on a most
charming elevation, surrounded on three sides with orange-trees, the
fourth opening a magnificent view over a fine landscape with the Taunus
mountains in the distance.

"I can offer you, at least, a good cigar," said the Minister, as he
selected with great care two from a number on a silver plateau before
him. "These, I think, you will find recommendable; they are grown for
myself at Cuba, and prepared after a receipt only known to one family."

In all this there was a dignified civility, not at all like the
impertinent freedom of his manner in the morning. He never, besides,
addressed me as Mr. Paynter; in fact, he did not advert to a name at
all, not giving me the slightest pretext for that reprisal I had come so
charged with; and, as to opening the campaign myself, I 'd as soon have
commenced acquaintance with a tiger by a pull at his tail. We were now
alone; the servants had retired, and there we sat, silently smoking our
cigars in apparent ease, but one of us, at least, in a frame of mind the
very opposite to tranquillity.

What a rush and conflict of thought was in my head! Why had not _she_
dined with us? Was her position such as that the presence of a stranger
became an embarrassment? Good heaven! was I to suppose this, that,
and the other? What was there in this man that so imposed on me, that
when I wanted to speak I only could sigh, and that I felt his presence
like some overpowering spell? It was that calm, self-contained, quiet
manner--cold rather than austere, courteous without cordiality--that
chilled me to the very marrow of my bones. Lecture _him_ on the private
moralities of his life! ask _him_ to render me an account of his
actions! address _him_ as Bluebottle!--

"With such tobacco as that, one can drink Bordeaux," said he. "Help
yourself."

And I did help myself,--freely, repeatedly. I dran