'I beg a thousand pardons! I am the most awkward of men and the most unfortunate of chamberlains. The Prince gave me a letter for you. I went to your palace but could not find you there. The Prince's letter is very urgent. I was obliged to try and find you, and I came here.'
'I am not surprised that you tracked me like a hound,' hissed the Countess, 'but I don't like to be the game.'
Watzdorf appeared to be delighted at her anger. He glanced at the chair on which hung a napkin left, by Brühl. The Countess noticed when he smiled at this discovery. She did not grow confused; but was angry in the highest degree.
'Where is that letter?' she asked.
Watzdorf smiled ironically and began to search his pockets, muttering in the meanwhile impertinently:
'Well, this house is charmingly situated for two.'
He took out several things and among them as if by accident the medal, then he added:
'Just imagine the daring of these agitators! Who could have expected anything like this?'
He put the medal on the table and searched further in his pockets. The Countess took the medal and looked at it, pretending that she had not seen it before: then she said indifferently, replacing it on the table:
'A very poor joke indeed! It does not hurt anybody.'