"I suppose he is at home," the Princess answered after a few seconds, in her most disagreeable and metallic tone.
As Monsieur Leroy had told Cecilia that he lived in the house, she opened her eyes. Nobody spoke for several moments, and the Countess got very red, and fanned herself. A stout old gentleman of an apoplectic complexion and a merry turn of mind struggled a moment with an evident desire to laugh, then grasped his glass desperately, tried to drink, choked himself, and coughed and sputtered, just as if he had not been a member of an imperial family, but just a common mortal.
"You are a good shot, Guido," said a man who was very much like him, but was older and had iron-grey hair, "you must be sure to come to us for the opening of the season."
"I should like to," Guido answered, "but it is always a state function at your place."
"The Emperor is not coming this year," explained the first speaker.
"Why not?" asked the Princess Anatolie. "I thought he always did."
The man with the iron-grey hair proceeded to explain why the Emperor was not coming, and the conversation began again, much to the relief of every one. The Countess listened attentively, for she was not quite sure which Emperor they meant.
"Please ask your mother not to talk about Monsieur Leroy," Guido said, almost in a whisper.
Cecilia thought that the advice would scarcely be needed after what had just happened, but she promised to convey it, and begged Guido to tell her the reason for what he said when he should have a chance.
"I am sorry to say that I cannot," he answered, and at once began to talk about an indifferent subject.