Note 66 — Chapter IV · “THE INVASION OF THE CRIMEA”

“D—n your eyes!” he said once, in a moment of irritation, to his attaché, Mr. Hay. “D—n your Excellency’s eyes!” was the answer, delivered with deep respect but with sufficient emphasis. Dismissed on the spot, the candid attaché went in great anger to pack up, but was followed after a time by Lady Canning, habitual peacemaker in the household, who besought him if not to apologize at least to bid his Chief good-bye. After much persuasion he consented. “Hardly had he entered the room when Sir Stratford had him by the hand. ‘My dear Hay, this will never do; what a devil of a temper you have!’ The two were firmer friends than ever after this” (Lane Poole’s Life of Lord Stratford, chapter xiii.).