Page:The Prime Minister by Hall Caine.djvu/102

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
78
THE PRIME MINISTER

of a Minister of State in a false character and for the purpose of espionage.

Sir Malcolm.
The enemy have become desperate, sir. They will dare anything.

Sir Robert.
Next, that the dear and trusted person who recommended this young Swiss governess could have been so deceived in her character as not to know she could be capable of becoming a party to a piece of treacherous and criminal duplicity.

Sir Malcolm.
The girl's feelings may have been played upon. There is the young man Otto.

Sir Robert.
[Looking again at paper.] After all, apart from your personal identification, there is nothing to connect this lady with the group of enemy aliens in Soho Square?

Sir Malcolm.
Nothing ! I admit that, sir. And if the person who recommended the Swiss girl gave any description of her which answered to the description in your hand——

Sir Robert.
[With a start.] Ah! [He goes to desk, takes out the packet of letters seen in Prologue, reads a moment, then says in a changed voice.] Leave me for the present, Sir Malcolm. Come back in half an hour. If I have satisfied myself in the meantime that the young