attorney's clerk.

On this occasion Doodles soon went, as had been expected, and Harry
found himself smoking with the two foreigners. Pateroff was no longer
eloquent, but sat with his cigar in his mouth as silent as Colonel
Schmoff himself. It was evidently expected of Harry that he should go.

"Count," he said at last, "you got my note?" There were seven or eight
persons sitting in the room beside the party of three to which Harry
belonged.

"Your note, Mr. Clavering! which note? Oh, yes; I should not have had
the pleasure of seeing you here to-day but for that."

"Can you give me five minutes in private?"

"What! now! here! this evening! after dinner? Another time I will talk
with you by the hour together."

"I fear I must trouble you now. I need not remind you that I could not
keep you yesterday morning; you were so much hurried."

"And now I am having my little moment of comfort! These special business
conversations after dinner are so bad for the digestion!"

"If I could have caught you before dinner, Count Pateroff, I would have
done so."

"If it must be, it must. Schmoff, will you wait for me ten minutes? I
will not be more than ten minutes." And the count, as he made this
promise, looked at his watch. "Waiter," he said, speaking in a sharp
tone which Harry had not heard before, "show this gentleman and me into
a private room."

Harry got up and led the way out, not forgetting to assure himself that
he cared nothing for the sharpness of the count's voice.

"Now, Mr. Clavering, what is it?" said the count, looking full into
Harry's eye.

"I will tell you in two words."

"In one if you can."

"I came with a message to you from Lady Ongar."

"Why are you a messenger from Lady Ongar?"

"I have known her long and she is connected with my family."

"Why does she not send her messages by Sir Hugh--her brother-in-law?"

"It is hardly for you to ask that!"

"Yes; it is for me to ask that. I have known Lady Ongar well, and have
treated her with kindness. I do not want to have messages by anybody.
But go on. If you are a messenger, give your message."

"Lady Ongar bids me tell you that she cannot see you."

"But she must see me. She shall see me!"

"I am to explain to you that she declines to do so. Surely, Count
Pateroff, you must understand--"

"Ah, bah; I understand everything--in such matters as these, better,
perhaps, than you, Mr. Clavering. You have given your message. Now, as
you are a