“I hear you are what they call reform in America?”
This was not the question that opened the gates.
“I don't care much for the word,” answered Mr. Crewe, shortly; “I prefer the word progressive.”
Discourse on the word “progressive” by the Austrian almost a monologue. But he was far from being discouraged.
“And Mrs. Pomfret tells me they play many detestable tricks on you—yes?”
“Tricks!” exclaimed Mr. Crewe, the memory of many recent ones being fresh in his mind; “I should say so. Do you know what a caucus is?”
“Caucus—caucus? It brings something to my head. Ah, I have seen a picture of it, in some English book. A very funny picture—it is in fun, yes?”
“A picture?” said Mr. Crewe. “Impossible!”
“But no,” said the Austrian, earnestly, with one finger to his temples. “It is a funny picture, I know. I cannot recall. But the word caucus I remember. That is a droll word.”
“Perhaps, Baron,” said Victoria, who had been resisting an almost uncontrollable desire to laugh, “you have been reading 'Alice in Wonderland.'”