That was all I could ask for and I awaited the interview with Colonel Petrosch with keen anticipation.
On the following morning Nikolitch came to report that the Colonel had been suddenly called away, however, and that he would come to see me the next day.
“Anything fresh occurred?” I asked.
“Something is always occurring just now, Bergwyn. But I fancy the Colonel has really gone to avoid the reception at the Palace to-night. He doesn’t wish to be present himself for one thing; and for another, I fancy he wishes you to go there without having committed yourself to us. You’re to be tackled, of course—the show is got up for that purpose, I suppose—and crediting you with the blunt methods of certain Americans, he thinks you might feel impelled to tell the truth. We don’t work in that crude way here, you know.”
I smiled. “Did you say anything about the Princess?”
“Very little. I dropped a hint that you were anxious about her safety. He made just the answer I should have expected.”
“Well?”
“That he wished to Heaven she could be induced to leave the country.”
“And so do I; but I doubt it. You’ll be at the Palace to-night, I suppose.”
“I. My dear fellow, no. There’ll be no place for small fry like me there. But I can tell you who will be there;” and he rattled away with a lot of Court gossip until I pulled him up.