“Certainly not! He has gone to Russia.”
The more the Countess learned, the more anxious she appeared to grow.
“To Russia, on a diplomatic mission? This is incredible, Alicia!”
“Why should it be incredible?” demanded Alicia, flushing.
“Because he is a mere tyro in diplomacy. Because there is a German embassy at Petersburg, and they would not send a man from London on a mission—at least, it is most unlikely.”
“It seems to me quite natural,” declared the Baroness.
She was showing more fight than her mother had ever encountered from her before, and the opposition seemed to inflame Lady Grillyer's resentment against the unfilial couple.
“You know nothing about it! What is this mission about?”
“That certainly is a secret,” said Alicia, relieved that there was something left to keep her promise over.
“Has he gone alone?”