s causing the General annoyance. Do you
believe that the Baron could not tell his lacquey simply to put you out
of doors?"

"Nevertheless I should not GO out of doors," I retorted with absolute
calm. "You are labouring under a delusion, Monsieur de Griers. The
thing will be done in far better trim than you imagine. I was just
about to start for Mr. Astley's, to ask him to be my intermediary--in
other words, my second. He has a strong liking for me, and I do not
think that he will refuse. He will go and see the Baron on MY behalf,
and the Baron will certainly not decline to receive him. Although I am
only a tutor--a kind of subaltern, Mr. Astley is known to all men as
the nephew of a real English lord, the Lord Piebroch, as well as a lord
in his own right. Yes, you may be pretty sure that the Baron will be
civil to Mr. Astley, and listen to him. Or, should he decline to do so,
Mr. Astley will take the refusal as a personal affront to himself (for
you know how persistent the English are?) and thereupon introduce to
the Baron a friend of his own (and he has many friends in a good
position). That being so, picture to yourself the issue of the
affair--an affair which will not quite end as you think it will."

This caused the Frenchman to bethink him of playing the coward. "Really
things may be as this fellow says," he evidently thought. "Really he
MIGHT be able to engineer another scene."

"Once more I beg of you to let the matter drop," he continued in a tone
that was now entirely conciliatory. "One would think that it actually
PLEASED you to have scenes! Indeed, it is a brawl rather than genuine
satisfaction that you are seeking. I have said that the affair may
prove to be diverting, and even clever, and that possibly you may
attain something by it; yet none the less I tell you" (he said this
only because he saw me rise and reach for my hat) "that I have come
hither also to hand you these few words from a certain person. Read
them, please, for I must take her back an answer."

So saying, he took from his pocket a small, compact, wafer-sealed note,
and handed it to me. In Polina's handwriting I read:

"I hear that you are thinking of going on with this affair. You have
lost your temper now, and are beginning to play the fool! Certain
circumstances, however, I may explain to you later. Pray cease from
your folly, and put a check upon yourself. For folly it all is. I have
need of you, and, moreover, you have promised to