‘Oh, no, not for a day or two. To-day, you see, I’m going for a little pleasure expedition. I wish you’d join us;’ for I felt in a most friendly mood towards him.
‘Indeed I wish I could,’ said he, with equal friendliness; ‘but I’m obliged to go up to the house at once.’
‘To the house? What for?’
‘To communicate to the Lady Euphrosyne my instructions concerning her.’
I was about to put a cigarette to my lips, but I stopped, suspending it in mid-air.
‘I beg your pardon,’ said I, ‘but have you instructions concerning her?’
He smiled, and laid a hand on my arm with an apologetic air.
‘I don’t think that there is any cause for serious uneasiness,’ said he, ‘though the delay will, I fear, be somewhat irksome to you. I must say, also, that it is impossible—yes, I admit that it is impossible—altogether to ignore the serious disturbances which have occurred; and these Neopalians are old offenders. Still I’m confident that the lady will be most leniently treated, especially in view of the relation in which she now stands to you.’
‘What are your instructions?’ I asked shortly.