"Yes."
"Madame receive your telegram only this afternoon," she said. "All week, she say, she wait to hear. This morning she have receive a telegram from Mr. Woods that say she mus' come to New York. She think you not coming, so she say 'Yes.' Then she receive your message. She don't know where to reach you. She can do nossing. She is desolated! She mus' fly to the train. She is ver' sorry. She hope that maybe the gentlemans will be in Baltimore nex' week? Yes?"
"You mean she can't come to-night?"
"Yes, monsieur. She cannot. She are fill with regret. She—"
"Perhaps," said my companion, recovering, "we can drive her to the train?"
The maid, however, did not seem to wish to discuss this point. She shook her head and said:
"Madame ver' sorry she cannot come."
"But I say," repeated my companion, "that we shall be delighted to drive her to the train if she wishes."
"She ver' sorry," persisted the maid negatively.
"Oh, I see," he said. "Very well. Please say to her that we are sorry, too."