"That cannot have come from Meissen, nor be of the year 1709.
That is much more recent. It comes from the Ilmenau factory—"
"How so? Say rather that it comes from Prankenthal?"
The baron, looking around from behind his cane, remarked:
"It is too smooth and shining for such an old date."
Maryan answered, with his hand on the lock:
"It is polished with agate."
And he went out. But the baron, after crossing the threshold, began:
"And as to the ruddy-brownish biscuit—"
The door closed; the voices ceased. Kranitski stood some time in the antechamber, then he turned toward the little drawing-room, and whispered:
"'Polished with agate'—'Biscuit,' and those are their last words!"