“You are very good indeed, I am sure, all of you,” Norgate declared, answering the general murmur of kindly words.  “The Baroness doesn’t play bridge, but I’d like to bring her in one afternoon, if I may.”

“I have had the honour of meeting the Baroness von Haase several times,” Prince Lenemaur said.  “It will give me the utmost pleasure to renew my acquaintance with her.  These alliances are most pleasing.  Since I have taken up my residence in this country, I regard them with the utmost favour.  They do much to cement the good feeling between Germany, Austria, and England, which is so desirable.”

“English people,” Mrs. Benedek remarked, “will at least have the opportunity of judging Austrian women from the proper standpoint.  Anna is one of the most accomplished and beautiful women in either Vienna or Berlin.  I hope so much that she will not have forgotten me altogether.”

They all drifted presently back to the bridge tables.  Norgate, however, excused himself.  He had some letters to write, he declared, and presently he withdrew to the little drawing-room.  In about a quarter of an hour, as he had expected, the door opened, and Selingman entered.  He crossed the room at once to where Norgate was writing and laid his hand upon his shoulder.

“Young man,” he said, “I wish to talk with you.  Bring your chair around.  Sit there so that the light falls upon your face.  So!  Now let me see.  Where does that door lead to?”

“Into the secretary’s room, but it is locked,” Norgate told him.

“So!  And the outer one I myself have carefully closed.  We talk here, then, in private.  This is great news which you have brought this afternoon.”

“It is naturally of some interest to me,” Norgate assented, “but I scarcely see—­”

“It is of immense interest, also, to me,” Selingman interrupted.  “It may be that you do not know this at present.  It may be that I anticipate, but if so, no matter.  Between you and your fiancee there will naturally be no secrets.  You are perhaps already aware that she holds a high position amongst those who are working for the power and development and expansion of our great empire?”

“I have gathered something of the sort,” Norgate admitted.  “I know, of course, that she is a personal favourite of the Emperor’s, and persona grata at the Court of Berlin.”

“You have no scruple, then, about marrying a woman who belongs to a certain clique, a certain school of diplomacy which you might, from a superficial point of view, consider inimical to your country’s interests?”

“I have no scruple at all in marrying the Baroness von Haase,” Norgate replied firmly.  “As for the rest, you and I have discussed fully the matter of the political relations between our countries.  I have shown you practically have I not, what my own views are?”