“Apparently it is. There are certain things which I cannot tell you from my side, and certain others I will not hear from you. It is your own fault.” This was very un-Imperial talk, but I was sick of the whole Emperor business, and still suffering from mortification.
The change in my manner appeared to strike her, for she looked at me sharply and replied as if with surprise—
“Have I ventured to ask you for your confidence about yourself, monsieur?”
“I did not mean to imply that you had. There is one thing,” I added, as an idea occurred to me. “Shall I send for Prince Kalkov?”
“Under no circumstances shall he cross my door,” she answered with prompt and unmistakable resolution.
“Will you postpone dealing with those papers then until I have had an opportunity of consulting him? That may prove a solution.”
“I know Prince Kalkov too well. Within five minutes of your leaving my house those papers will be on their way to the destination I have indicated.”
“Then in Heaven’s name what are we to do?”
“If you will listen to my story you will see that Prince Kalkov is the man I accuse.”
“But there are insuperable reasons why I cannot and will not listen.”