n says, 'Zo it is,' and laughed. 'I
haf ze pleasure of meeting you last night at ze Lady Tollyvoddle,' I said.
'I remember,' he said; 'but I haf no vish to meet you again.' I take out
my card to gif him, but he only said, 'Go avay, or I vill call ze police!'
'Ze police! To me, Baron von Blitzenberg! Teufel!' I replied."

"And that was all, Baron?" asked Mr Bunker, in what seemed rather like a
tone of relief.

"No; suddenly he did turn back and said, 'By ze vay, who vas zat viz you
last night?' To vich I replied, 'If you address me again, my man, I vill
call ze police. Go avay!' "

"Bravo, Baron! Ha, ha, ha! Excellent!" laughed Mr Bunker.

This applause served to reinstate the Baron a little in his own good
opinion. He laughed too, though rather noisily than heartily, and suddenly
became grave again.

"Vat means zis, Bonker? Vat haf I done? Vy should zey treat me zo?"

"Well, you see, my dear Baron," his friend explained, "I ought to have
warned you that it is not usual in England to address ladies you have met
at a dance without some direct invitation on their part. At the same time,
it is evident that the Hiltons and the other man, who of course must be
connected with the Foreign Office, are aware of some sudden strain in the
diplomatic relations between England and Germany, which as yet is unknown
to the public. Your ancient name and your high rank have naturally led
them to conclude that you are an agent of the German Government, and an
international significance was of course attached to your presence in the
Park. I certainly think they took a most outrageous advantage of a
trifling detail of etiquette to repulse you; but then you must remember,
Baron, that their families might have been seriously compromised with the
Government if they had been seen with so prominent a member of the German
aristocracy in the middle of Hyde Park."

"Zo?" said the Baron, thoughtfully. "I begin to onderstand. My name, as
you say, is cairtainly distinguished. Bot zen should I remain in London?"

"Just what I was wondering, Baron. What do you say to a trip down to St
Egbert's-on-Sea? It's a very select watering-place, and we might spend a
week or two there very pleasantly."

"Egxellent!" said the Baron; "ven shall we start?"

"To-morrow morning."

"Goot! zo let it be. I am tired of London and of ze English ladies'
manners. Police to ze Baron von Blitzenberg! Ve shall go to St Egbert's,
Bonker!"