After a moment’s thought I resolved to go there; but I did no good by that. After waiting some time a message was brought me that Her Majesty regretted she could not receive me just then. I asked for Gatrina next, only to be again refused; and I returned home in a bad temper in consequence.
I had not recovered it when the time came for my appointment with Nikolitch for dinner; and he saw it.
“You look worried,” he said.
“It’ll pass off,” I replied.
“No bad news from the States, I hope? Not another financial crisis. They flourish over there gaily, don’t they?”
“Men make fools of themselves there as elsewhere; and with us it takes that form pretty often. By the way, you were going to tell me some news about the Baroness von Tulken.”
“They say you’re engaged to be married to her.”
“Who says it?”
“Well, I rather fancy she does.”
“It isn’t true. That’s all there is to it.”