Softness was impossible to Sir Raffle; but his temper was sufficiently under his control to enable him to encounter the rebuke, and to pull himself up from time to time when he found himself tempted to speak loud and to take things with a high hand.  He knew that a clerk should not be dismissed for leaving his office, who could show that his absence had been caused by some matter really affecting the interest of his family; and that were he to drive Eames to go on this occasion without leave, Eames would simply be called in to state what was the matter of moment which had taken him away.  Probably he had stated that matter of moment in this very document which Sir Raffle was holding in his hand.  But Sir Raffle was not willing to be conquered by the document.  If it was necessary that he should give way, he would much prefer to give way—­out of his own good-nature, let us say—­without looking at the document at all.  ‘I must, under the circumstances, decline to read this,’ he said, ‘unless it should come before me officially,’ and he handed back the paper.

‘I thought it best to let you see it if you pleased,’ said John Eames.  Then he turned round as though he were going to leave the room; but suddenly he turned back again.  ’I don’t like to leave you, Sir Raffle, without saying good-bye.  I do not suppose we shall meet again.  Of course you must do your duty, and I do not wish you to think that I have any personal ill-will against you.’  So saying, he put out his hand to Sir Raffle as though to take a final farewell.  Sir Raffle looked at him in amazement.  He was dressed, as has been said, in black, and did not look like the John Eames of every day to whom Sir Raffle was accustomed.

‘I don’t understand this at all,’ said Sir Raffle.

‘I was afraid that it was only too plain,’ said John Eames.

‘And you must go?’

‘Oh, yes;—­that is certain.  I have pledged myself to go.’

’Of course I don’t know anything of this matter that is so important to your family.’

‘No; you do not,’ said Johnny.

’Can’t you explain it to me, then? so that I may have some reason—­if there is any reason.’

Then John told the story of Mr Crawley—­a considerable portion of the story; and in his telling of it, I think it probable that he put more weight upon the necessity of his mission to Italy than it could have fairly been made to bear.  In the course of the narration Sir Raffle did once contrive to suggest that a lawyer going to Florence might do the business at any rate as well as John Eames.  But Johnny denied this.  ’No, Sir Raffle, it is impossible; quite impossible,’ he said.  ’If you saw the lawyer who is acting in the matter, Mr Toogood, who is also my uncle, he would tell you the same.’  Sir Raffle had already heard something of the story of Mr Crawley, and was now willing to accept the sad tragedy of that case as an excuse for his private secretary’s somewhat insubordinate conduct.  ’Under the circumstances, Eames, I suppose you must go; but I think you should have told me all about it before.’