“I wonder wind can induce your Excellency to talk such nonsense!”
“Your Excellency! by Jove, that’s good! What the deuce is the matter with the man? It is Miss Fane, then, eh?”
“Baron von Konigstein, I wish you to understand—”
“My dear fellow, I never could understand anything. I think you have insulted me in a most disgraceful manner, and I positively must call you out, unless you promise to dine at my rooms with me to-morrow, to meet De Boeffleurs.”
“I cannot.”
“Why not? You have no engagement with Lady Madeleine I know, for St. George has agreed to come.”
“Yes?”
“De Boeffleurs leaves Ems next week. It is sooner than he expected, and I wish to have a quiet evening together before he goes. I should be very vexed if you were not there. We have scarcely been enough together lately. What with the New House in the evening, and riding parties in the morning, and those Fitzloom girls, with whom St. George is playing a most foolish game, he will be taken in now, if he is not on his guard; we really never meet, at: least not in a quiet friendly way; and so now, will you come?”
“St. George is positively coming?”
“Oh yes’ positively; do not be afraid of his gaining ground on the little Violet in your absence.”