Chapter 32: A New Client

The Conclusion of the Matter is extracted from the Case-Book of the Hon. Augustus Champnell, Confidential Agent

On the afternoon of Friday, June 2, 18—, I was entering in my case-book some memoranda having reference to the very curious matter of the Duchess of Datchet’s Deed-box. It was about two o’clock. Andrews came in and laid a card upon my desk. On it was inscribed ‘Mr Paul Lessingham.’

‘Show Mr Lessingham in.’

Andrews showed him in. I was, of course, familiar with Mr Lessingham’s appearance, but it was the first time I had had with him any personal communication. He held out his hand to me.

‘You are Mr Champnell?’

‘I am.’

‘I believe that I have not had the honour of meeting you before, Mr Champnell, but with your father, the Earl of Glenlivet, I have the pleasure of some acquaintance.’

I bowed. He looked at me, fixedly, as if he were trying to make out what sort of man I was.

‘You are very young, Mr Champnell.’

‘I have been told that an eminent offender in that respect once asserted that youth is not of necessity a crime.’

‘And you have chosen a singular profession, —one in which one hardly looks for juvenility.’

‘You yourself, Mr Lessingham, are not old. In a statesman one expects grey hairs.—I trust that I am sufficiently ancient to be able to do you service.’