“My dear fellow, that's your pull. Foreign diplomatists are police-proof!”
“Ah, but my wife!”
“One stormy hour—then tears and forgiveness!”
The Baron lowered his voice.
“Her mozzer vill visit us next veek. I loff and respect Lady Grillyer; but I should not like to have to ask her for forgiveness.”
“Yes, she has rather an uncompromising nose, so far as I remember.”
“It is a kind nose to her friends, Bonker,” the Baron explained, “but severe towards——”
“Myself, for instance,” laughed Essington. “Well, what do you suggest?”
“First, zat you dine mit me to-night. No, I vill take no refusal! Listen! I am now meeting a distinguished person on important international business—do you pairceive? Ha, ha, ha! To-night it vill be necessary ve most dine togezzer. I have an engagement, but he can be put off for soch a great person as the man I am now meeting at ze club! You vill gom?”
“I should have been delighted—only unluckily I have a man dining with me. I tell you what! You come and join us! Will you?”