At the same time, his highness appeared to speak with the candor of a man who has partaken, not excessively, you understand, but I may say freely, of the pleasures of the table." He looked steadily first at one lady and then at the other, to let this point sink in.
"And what did the Prince say ?" asked the Baroness, who, in spite of her supreme confidence in her husband, showed a certain eager nervousness inseparable from a judicial inquiry.
"He told me--I merely give you his word, and not my own opinion; you perfectly understand that, Baroness ?" "Oh yes," she answered hurriedly.
"He informed me that, in fact, the Baron had been obliged to ask for a fortnight's leave of absence to attend to some very pressing and private business in connection with his Silesian estates." "I think, Alicia, we may take that as final," said her mother decisively.
"Indeed _I_ shan't!" cried Alicia warmly.

"That was just an excuse, of course.

Rudolph's business is so very delicate that--that--well, that you could only expect Prince Gommell-Kinchen to say something of that sort." "What do you say to that, Sir Justin ?" demanded the Countess.
With the air of a man doing what was only his duty, he replied-- "I say that I think it is improbable.

In fact, since you demand to know the truth, I may inform you that the Prince added that leave of absence was readily given, since the Baron's diplomatic duties are merely nominal.

To quote his own words, 'Von Blitzenberg is a nice fellow, and it pleases the English ladies to play with him.'" Even Lady Grillyer was a trifle taken aback at this description of her son-in-law, while Alicia turned scarlet with anger.
"I don't believe he said anything of the sort!" she cried.