Quinnox looked to Truxton King for inspiration and that gentleman favoured him with a singularly dis-spiriting nod of the head. The old Graustarkian cleared his throat and rather stiffly announced that he would receive Mr. Blithers if he would call on him at the Ritz that afternoon.
"What!" exclaimed both agents, half-starting from their chairs in amazement.
The Count stared hard at them. "You may say to him that I will be in at four."
"He'll tell you to go to—ahem!" The speaker coughed just in time. "Blithers isn't in the habit of going out of his way to—to oblige anybody. He wouldn't do it for the Emperor of Germany."
"But," said the Count with a frosty smile, "I am not the Emperor of Germany."
"Better let me make an appointment for you to see him at his office. It's just around the corner." There was a pleading note in the speaker's voice.
"You might save your face, Calvert, by saying that the Count will be pleased to have him take tea with him at the Ritz," suggested King.
"Tea!" exclaimed Calvert scornfully. "Blithers, doesn't drink the stuff."
"It's a figure of speech," said King patiently.
"All right, I'll telephone," said the other dubiously.
He came back a few minutes later with a triumphant look in his eye.
"Blithers says to tell Count Quinnox he'll see him to-morrow morning at half-past eight at his office. Sorry he's engaged this afternoon."
"But did you say I wanted him to have tea with us!" demanded the Count, an angry flush leaping to his cheek.
"I did. I'm merely repeating what he said in reply. Half-past eight, at his office, Count. Those were his words."
"It is the most brazen exhibition of insolence I've ever—" began the Count furiously, but checked himself with an effort. "I—I
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