"
O'Moy with a great deference made haste to reassure him on the score
of the intrusion, whilst the ladies themselves rose to greet him.
He bore her ladyship's hand to his lips with perfunctory courtesy,
then insisted upon her resuming her chair. Then he bowed - ever
with that mixture of stiffness and deference - to Miss Armytage
upon her being presented to him by the adjutant.
"Do not suffer me to disturb you," he begged them. "Sit down,
O'Moy. I am not pressed, and I shall be monstrous glad of a few
moments' rest. You are very pleasant here," and he looked about
the luxuriant garden with approving eyes.
Sir Terence placed the hospitality of his table at his lordship's
disposal. But the latter declined graciously.
"A glass of wine and water, if you will. No more. I breakfasted
at Torres Vedras with Fletcher." Then to the look of astonishment
on the faces of the ladies he smiled. "Oh yes," he assured them,
"I was early astir, for time is very precious just at present,
which is why I drop unannounced upon you from the skies, O'Moy."
He took the glass that Mullins proffered on a salver, sipped from
it, and set it down. "There is so much vexation, so much hindrance
from these pestilential intriguers here in Lisbon, that I have
thought it as well to come in person and speak plainly to the
gentlemen of the Council of Regency.
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