“We will say I dreamed it, if you like,” I responded drily. “I have very remarkable dreams sometimes, and learn a great deal from them.
“To confine ourselves to business. I have caused the sailing of this Baltic Fleet to be put off, because——”
“You—have caused it!”
The interruption burst from him in spite of himself.
I affected to shrug my shoulders with a certain annoyance.
“Your opinion of my powers does not seem to be a very high one, unfortunately,” I remarked with irony. “It would be better if you accepted me as a serious antagonist, believe me.”
Petrovitch lowered his eyes in confusion, as he muttered,
“I apologize, Monsieur V——. I have blundered, as I now perceive.”
“Let us resume. I was about to say that I had prevented the sailing of this fleet, because I feared that its voyage might be marked by some incident likely to bring Great Britain and Russia into collision.”