Chapter 16

⁠​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​⁠Mr. William Hayter, in the solitude of his chambers at the Milan Court, was a very altered personage. He extended no welcoming salutation to his midnight visitor but simply motioned him to a chair.

“Well,” he began, “is your task finished that you are in London?”

“My task,” Lessingham replied, “might just as well never have been entered upon. The man you sent me to watch is nothing but an ordinary s