"Can I see her?"
"Yes, of course—with an order."
"Whose order?"
"Anyone who is my superior."
"Can you give me an order?" He repeated his gesture, murmuring an expression of regret.
"You have not told me much," I said, and he smiled deprecatingly. "But it is enough to tell me where I must look for information."
His smile changed to one of congratulation, and, rising, he gave me his hand.
"Lieutenant, a brave man like you shall always command my sympathies and services so far as my duty permits," and with that official reservation he bowed me out with the most profuse of polite gestures.
I thought I saw from where the stroke came, and without any longer delay I hurried to the Prince Bilbassoff.
He was at first said to be out; and for some half hour I cooled my heels and warmed my temper and impatience striding up and down in front of the building. Then he was denied to me on the ground that he was very busily engaged; and only when I insisted that my business was exceptionally urgent and personal, was I admitted to an antechamber and left waiting there with some half dozen other.