“Rather behind time, I fear, gentlemen, rather behind time, but donnerwetter—!”
“Come, come, doctor,” said van Beneden with a laugh, “no strong language if you please. I daresay you fell in with Miss van Bemmelen on the green.”
The doctor reddened up to the very roots of his hair, as he replied in some confusion:
“Well, yes, I did meet her—”
“In that case, my dear fellow,” continued van Beneden, “you need not trouble yourself to make any apology at all, where there is a lady in the case—”
“Stuff and nonsense!” broke in Murowski, “I wasn’t in her company for five minutes!”
“If that be the case, doctor,” said van Rheijn, “we must ask you why you have kept us so long. You knew we were all here waiting for you.”
“Oh, never mind,” put in Grashuis with a smile, “don’t press him too hard—our learned friend has probably been hunting some other pretty little butterfly!”
“Yes, I can see him,” continued van Beneden, “net in hand, running after some splendid Sphynx.”
“Indeed,” growled Murowski, “you seem to have a pretty lively imagination. Sphynx indeed! A funny kind of Sphynx has been after me!”