"
"Come and see me soon," she begged, dropping her voice a little,
"and I will confide in you as much as I dare."
"It is tempting," he admitted, "I should like to know what passes
at that meeting."
"You can, if you will, dine with us to-morrow night," she invited,
"at half-past eight. My aunt will be delighted to see you. I
forget whether we have people coming or not, but you will be very
welcome."
The young man bowed low as he handed his charge into a taxicab.
"Dear Countess," he murmured, "I shall be charmed."
CHAPTER XV
For a gathering of men upon whose decision hung such momentous
issues, the Council which met that evening at Westminster seemed
alike unambitious in tone and uninspired in appearance. Some
short time was spent in one of the anterooms, where Julian was
introduced to many of the delegates. The disclosure of his
identity, although it aroused immense interest, was scarcely an
unmixed joy to the majority of them. Those who were in earnest--
and they mostly were in grim and deadly earnest--had hoped to
find him a man nearer their own class. Fenn and Bright had their
own reasons for standing apart, and the extreme pacifists took
note of the fact that he had been a soldier. His coming, however,
was an event the importance of which nobody attempted to conceal.
The Bishop was voted into the chair when the little company
trooped into the apartment which had been set aside for their more
important meetings.
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