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〃Oh； ja； as leetleas possible；〃 answered the Baron； though not with his most ingenuous air。 〃Besides； it is tree years since I promised。 For tree years I have seen nozing。 My love Alicia； you vould not have me forget mine friends altogezzer？〃
But the Baroness had too vivid a recollection of their last （and only） visit to England since their marriage。 By a curious coincidence that also was three years ago。
〃When you last met you remember what happened？〃 she asked； with an ominous hint of emotion in her accents 。
〃My love； how often have I eggsplained？ Zat night you mean； I did schleep in mine hat because I had got a cold in my head。 I vas not dronk； no more zan you。 Vat you found in my pocket vas a mere joke； and ze cabman who called next day vas jost vat I told him to his ogly facea blackmail。〃
〃You gave him money to go away。〃
〃A Blitzenberg does not bargain mit cabmen；〃 said the Baron loftily。
His wife's spirits began to revive。 There seemed to speak the owner of Fogelschloss； the haughty magnate of Bavaria。
〃You have too much self…respect to wish to find yourself in such a position again；〃 she said。 〃I know you have； Rudolph！〃
The Baron was silent。 This appeal met with distinctly less response than she confidently counted upon。 In a graver note she inquired
〃You know what mother thinks of Mr。 Essington？〃
〃Your mozzer is a vise old lady； Alicia； but we do not zink ze same on all opinions。〃
〃She will be exceedingly displeased if youwell； if you do anything that she THOROUGHLY disapproves of。〃
The Baron left the window and took his wife's plump hand affectionately within his own broad palm。
〃You can assure her； my love； zat I shall never do vat she dislikes。 You vill say zat to her if she inquires？〃
〃Can I； truthfully？〃
〃Ach； my own dear！〃
From his enfolding arms she whispered tenderly
〃Of course I will； Rudolph！〃
With a final hug the embrace abruptly ended； and the Baron hastily glanced at his watch。
〃Ach； nearly had I forgot！ I must go to ze club for half an hour。〃
〃Must you？〃
〃To meet a friend。〃
〃What friend？〃 asked the Baroness quickly。
〃A man whose name you vould know velloh； vary vell known he is！ But in diplomacy； mine Alicia； a quiet meeting in a club is sometimes better not to be advertised too moch。 Great wars have come from one vord of indiscretion。 You know ze axiom of Bismarck 'In diplomacy it is necessary for a diplomatist to be diplomatic。' Good…by； my love。〃
He bowed as profoundly as if she were a reigning sovereign； blew an affectionate kiss as he went through the door； and then descended the stairs with a rapidity that argued either that his appointment was urgent or that diplomacy shrank from a further test within this mansion。
CHAPTER II
For the last year or two the name of Rudolph von Blitzenberg had appeared in the members' list of that most exclusive of institutions； the Regent's Club； Pall Mall； and it was thither he drove on this fine afternoon of July。 At no resort in London were more famous personages to be found； diplomatic and otherwise； and nothing would have been more natural than a meeting between the Baron and a European celebrity beneath its roof； so that if you had seen him bounding impetuously up the steps； and noted the eagerness with which he inquired whether a gentleman had called for him； you would have had considerable excuse for supposing his appointment to be with a dignitary of the highest importance。
〃Goot！〃 he cried on learning that a stranger was indeed waiting for him。 His face beamed with anticipatory joy。 Aha！ he was not to be disappointed。
〃Vill he be jost the same？〃 he wondered。 〃Ah； if he is changed I shall veep！〃
He rushed into the smoking…room； and there； instead of any bald notability or spectacled statesman； there advanced to meet him a merely private English gentleman； tolerably young； undeniably good…looking； and graced with the most debonair of smiles。
〃My dear Bonker！〃 cried the Baron； crimsoning with joy。 〃Ach； how pleased I am！〃
〃Baron！〃 replied his visitor gaily。 〃You cannot deceive methat waistcoat was made in Germany！ Let me lead you to a respectable tailor！〃
Yet； despite his bantering tone； it was easy to see that he took an equal pleasure in the meeting。
〃Ha； ha！〃 laughed the Baron； 〃vot a fonny zing to say！ Droll as ever； eh？〃
〃Five years less droll than when we first。 met；〃 said the late Bunker and present Essington。 〃You meet a dullish dog； Barona sobered reveller。〃
〃Ach； no！ Not surely？ Do not disappoint me； dear Bonker！〃
The Baron's plaintive note seemed to amuse his friend。
〃You don't mean to say you actually wish a boon companion？ You； Baron； the modern Talleyrand； the repository of three emperors' secrets？ My dear fellow； I nearly came in deep mourning。〃
〃Mourning！ For vat？〃
〃For our lamented past： I supposed you would have the air of a Nonconformist beadle。〃
〃My friend！〃 said the Baron eagerly； and yet with a lowering of his voice； 〃I vould not like to engage a beadle mit jost ze same feelings as me。 Come here to zis corner and let us talk！ Vaiter！ whiskysoda cigarsall for two。 Come； Bonker！〃
Stretched in arm…chairs； in a quiet corner of the room； the two surveyed one another with affectionate and humorous interest。 For three years they had not seen one another at all； and save once they had not met for five。 In five years a man may change his religion or lose his hair； inherit a principality or part with a reputation； grow a beard or turn teetotaler。 Nothing so fundamental had happened to either of our friends。 The Baron's fullness of contour we have already noticed； in Mandell… Essington； EX Bunker； was to be seen even less evidence of the march of time。 But years； like wheels upon a road； can hardly pass without leaving in their wake some faint impress； however fair the weather； and perhaps his hair lay a fraction of an inch higher up the temple； and in the corners of his eyes a hint might even be discerned of those little wrinkles that register the smiles and frowns。 Otherwise he was the same distinguished…looking； immaculately dressed； supremely self…possessed； and charming Francis Bunker； whom the Baron's memory stored among its choicer possessions。
〃Tell me；〃 demanded the Baron； 〃vat you are doing mit yourself； mine Bonker。〃
〃Doing？〃 said Essington； lighting his cigar。 〃Well； my dear Baron； I am endeavoring to live as I imagine a gentleman should。〃
〃And how is zat？〃
〃Riding a little； shooting a little； and occasionally telling the truth。 At other times I cock a wise eye at my modest patrimony； now and then I deliver a lecture with magic…lantern slides； and when I come up to town I sometimes watch cricket…matches。 A devilish invigorating programme； isn't it？〃
〃Ha； ha！〃 laughed the Baron again； he had come prepared to laugh； and carried out his intention religiously。 〃But you do not feel more old and sober； eh？〃
〃I don't want to； but no man can avoid his destiny。 The natives of this island are a serious people； or if they are frivolous； it is generally a trifle vulgarly done。 The diversions of the professedly gay…hooting over pointless badinage and speculating