It is yours, waiting and ready." The Baron bent toward the young man anxiously.
Armitage shook his head slowly, and clasped the stick with both hands and held it across his knees.
"No,--no! Please let us not talk of that any more.

I could not feel comfortable about it.

I have kept my pledge to do something for his country--something that we may hope pleases him if he knows." The three were silent for a moment.

A breeze, sweet with pine-scent of the hills, swept the valley, taking tribute of the gardens as it passed.
The Baron was afraid to venture his last request.
"But the name--the honored name of the greatest statesman Austria has known--a name that will endure with the greatest names of Europe--surely you can at least accept that." The Ambassador's tone was as gravely importunate as though he were begging the cession of a city from a harsh conqueror.

Armitage rose and walked the length of the veranda.