"Indeed I do," said I quickly, "and as soon as possible."
"And pray in what character now?"
This with a contemptuous and insulting curl of the lip. I paused to give my reply the greater emphasis.
"In a double character—a messenger from his Majesty the Emperor, and as her affianced husband."
"You are not her affianced husband, and I will not suffer that tale to be told in my presence. As for the rest, it is more like a play-actor's story. You imposed upon us too long. You will not do it again." She said this very angrily indeed, and added, almost spitefully: "The countess does not wish to see you."
"In this case I am afraid she cannot choose," I answered. "The Emperor's business cannot wait upon any prejudices for or against his messengers." There was a little stretch of authority insinuated in this. "Moreover, I am bound to say that I prefer to have her decision straight from herself."
"You suggest that I lie, I suppose," she cried, her eyes flashing. "You are too brave a man not to seize a chance of insulting a defenceless woman. That is your stage chivalry. But you will find I am not so defenceless as you suppose."
She rang the bell sharply twice, and then, somewhat to my surprise, and a good deal to my pleasure, the Baron Heckscher was shown in.
"I am told you wish to see me, baroness," he said, ignoring my presence.
"I wish you to tell this person what we have decided as to his prosecution."