Carlton House Terrace! I thought my own leaves were yellowing; I now perceive that was only an autumnal change. Spring has returned, and I feel like a green bay tree!”
“Hoch, hoch!” roared the Baron, to the great surprise of two Cabinet Ministers and a Bishop who were taking tea at the other side of the room. “Vat shall ve do to show zere is no sick feeling?”
“H'm,” reflected Essington, with a comical look. “There's a lot of scaffolding at the bottom of St. James's Street. Should we have it down to-night? Or what do you say to a packet of dynamite in the two-penny tube?”
The Baron sobered down a trifle.
“Ach, not so fast, not qvite so fast, dear Bonker. Remember I must not get into troble at ze embassy.”
“My dear fellow, that's your pull. Foreign diplomatists are police-proof!”
“Ah, but my wife!”
“One stormy hour—then tears and forgiveness!”
The Baron lowered his voice.
“Her mozzer vill visit us next veek. I loff and respect Lady Grillyer; but I should not like to have to ask her for forgiveness.”
“Yes, she has rather an uncompromising nose, so far as I remember.”
“It is a kind nose to her friends, Bonker,” the Baron explained, “but severe towards——”
“Myself, for instance,” laughed Essington. “Well, what do you suggest?”
“First, zat you dine mit me to-night. No, I vill take no refusal! Listen! I am now meeting a distinguished person on important international business—do you pairceive? Ha, ha, ha! To-night it vill be necessary ve most dine togezzer. I have an engagement, but he can be put off for soch a great person as the man I am now meeting at ze club! You vill gom?”
“I should have been delighted—only unluckily I have a man dining with me. I tell you what! You come and join us!
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