“What in the world is the fellow driving at!” he exclaimed angrily—“‘My messenger’! ‘Explained the entire situation’! The devil! ‘Left for Moscow’! Upon my soul, this is maddening!” And he rang the bell sharply.
“Who brought this note?” he asked, as his servant entered.
“Mr. Jost’s own man, Excellency.”
“Has he gone?”
“Yes, Excellency.”
“Wait!” And sitting down he wrote hastily the following lines:
“DEAR SIR,—Your letter is inexplicable. I sent no messenger to you last night. If you have any explanation to offer, I shall be disengaged and alone till 11.30 this morning.
“Yours truly,—DE LUTERA.”
Folding, sealing, and addressing this, he marked it ‘Private’ and gave it to his man.
“Take this yourself,” he said, “and put it into Mr. Jost’s own hands. Trust no one to deliver it. Ask to see him personally, and then give it to him. You understand?”