"Why from me? I know nothing. Wait--I do know something. He wrote me a letter saying he was better and intended to go to Russia." "Probably to see Petrovitch about his pardon. I wish I had seen him before he left Paris"; and the diplomatist smiled when the letter was mentioned. "Did you not see him?" Aksakoff raised his eyebrows. "But it was impossible, madame," he explained, without even a wink. "Dr. Helfmann took him away in the fiacre and I departed for Havre. I did not return to Paris." "I see; your business at Havre detained you." "Longer than I expected," said the diplomatist, taking his cue. "You see, madame, I was forced to repeat my conversation with M. Demetrius to my cousin the Count. I expect that he wrote to Paris, and told M. Demetrius to come to Havre for a conversation." "Without knowing his address? How clever!" Aksakoff laughed. "You have me there, madame." "I really don't know what you mean. How is Katinka?" "She is at Brussels. In good health, I believe." "Does she know that M. Demetrius has gone to St. Petersburg?" "Possibly. He had to write announcing his engagement to you." If he expected Lady Jim to be taken aback by this abrupt speech, he was mistaken in the woman, whose aplomb he should have known. She merely laughed and dropped out a ready lie with slow amusement. "Ah, my dear M. Aksakoff, clever linguists as you Russians are, your comprehension of the English language is limited--very, very limited. M. Demetrius should have known, that in our tongue, one word may have several meanings. See--a diocese. See--to perceive by the eye." "Your illustration is felicitous, madame. I understand, then, that M. Demetrius translated 'No' as 'Yes'!" "Oh, he was by no means so stupid as that. The man bothered me with attentions for months, and was quite a nuisance. I nearly spoke to poor dear Jim about his smirking, grinning compliments. He talked of me in clubs and followed everywhere, sighing like a furnace--if a furnace ever does sigh. I speak on Shakespeare's authority. To keep the creature quiet I said something which he apparently misconstrued--a sop to Cerberus, a cake to a child. You understand." "I think so. There was no engagement." "None at all. How impertinent of him to suggest such a thing, when my husband is scarcely cold in his grave! But I pardon him on account of his ignorance of our language, which undoubtedly led him into error. When I see him again I shall explain myself in a way which he will probably find disagreeable." Aksakoff smiled imperceptibly. "M. Demetrius is much to blame, madame, for not having given more attention to your English grammar. I go to St. Petersburg myself in a week. Perhaps you will give me some message to him." "No! The man is a fool, and I never wish to hear about him again."