first at one lady and then at the other, to let this
point sink in.

"And what did the Prince say?" asked the Baroness, who, in spite of her
supreme confidence in her husband, showed a certain eager nervousness
inseparable from a judicial inquiry.

"He told me--I merely give you his word, and not my own opinion; you
perfectly understand that, Baroness?"

"Oh yes," she answered hurriedly.

"He informed me that, in fact, the Baron had been obliged to ask for a
fortnight's leave of absence to attend to some very pressing and private
business in connection with his Silesian estates."

"I think, Alicia, we may take that as final," said her mother
decisively.

"Indeed _I_ shan't!" cried Alicia warmly. "That was just an excuse, of
course. Rudolph's business is so very delicate that--that--well, that
you could only expect Prince Gommell-Kinchen to say something of that
sort."

"What do you say to that, Sir Justin?" demanded the Countess.

With the air of a man doing what was only his duty, he replied--

"I say that I think it is improbable. In fact, since you demand to know
the truth, I may inform you that the Prince added that leave of absence
was readily given, since the Baron's diplomatic duties are merely
nominal. To quote his own words, 'Von Blitzenberg is a nice fellow, and
it pleases the English ladies to play with him.'"

Even Lady Grillyer was a trifle taken aback at this description of her
son-in-law, while Alicia turned scarlet with anger.

"I don't believe he said anything of the sort!" she cried. "You both of
you only want to hurt me and insult Rudolph! I won't stand it!"

She was already on her feet to leave them, when her mother stopped her,
and Sir Justin hastened to explain.

"No reflection upon the Baron's character was intended, I assure you.
The Prince merely meant to imply that he represented the social rather
than the business side of the embassy. And both are equally necessary, I
assure you--equally essential, Baroness, believe me."

"In fact," said the Countess, "the remark comes to this, that Rudolph
would never be sent to Russia, whatever else they might expect of him."

Even through their tears Alicia's eyes brightened with triumph.

"But he HAS gone, mamma! I got a letter from him this morning--from St.
Petersburg!"

The satisfaction of her two physicians on hearing this piece of good
news took the form of a start which might well have been mistaken for
mere astonishment, or eve