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 messenger, will you give mine?”

“That will depend altogether on its nature.”