He stood there, for several moments, with his elbow upon the mantelpiece, looking down into the fire.

A darker shadow had stolen across his face as soon as he was alone.

In his court dress and brilliant array of orders, he was certainly a very distinguished-looking figure.

Yet the last few years had branded lines into his face which it was doubtful if he would ever lose.

To be Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the greatest power which the world had as yet known must certainly seem, on paper, to be as brilliant a post as a man's ambition could covet.