“Oh, ’tis upon a matter of state you come?” she cried in a surprised tone.
“If a document signed by the Privy Council itself can be rightly so termed, madam,” I answered dryly.
“Then you are not Colonel Overton?” she said hastily.
I looked at her in unfeigned astonishment. I suppose she saw the answer written on my face.
“Ah, I see that you are not,” she added.
“I am certainly not Colonel Overton,” I replied, at a loss for her meaning.
“Nor come on his behalf?” she persisted.
“So little, madam,” I answered, “that I do not even know the name of the gentleman you mention.”
To my surprise she gave a short laugh.
“Had you given us your name and the nature of your business at first, sir, you might have saved yourself this delay,” she said abruptly. Then raising her voice: