He did not answer; his lips were firm set. Unconsciously he was pressing the point of the paper-knife into the leather; it snapped in two. He threw the pieces aside, and said, with a sudden lightness of manner, "Ah, well, my dear madame, you know young people are sometimes very headstrong, and difficult to manage. We must see what can be done in this case. You have not told Natalie you were coming to me?" "No. She asked me at first; then she said she would tell you herself." He regarded her for a second. "There is no reason why you should say you have been here?" "Perhaps not, perhaps not," Madame Potecki said, doubtfully. "No; there is no necessity. But if one were sure that the dear child were to be made any happier--" She did not complete the sentence. "I think you may leave the whole affair in my hands, my dear Madame Potecki," said Lind, in his usual courteous fashion. He spoke, indeed, as if it were a matter of the most trifling importance. "I think I can promise you that Natalie shall not be allowed to imperil the happiness of her life by taking any rash steps. In the mean time, I am your debtor that you have come and told me. It was considerate of you, Madame Potecki; I am obliged to you." The little woman was practically dismissed. She rose, still doubtful, and hesitated. But what more could she say? "I am not to tell her, then?" she said. "If you please, not." When he had graciously bowed her out, he returned to his seat at the desk; and then the forced courtesy of his manner was abandoned. His brows gathered down; his lips were again firm set; he bent one of the pieces of the paper-knife until that snapped too; and when some one knocked at the door, he answered sharply in German. It was Gathorne Edwards who entered. "Well, you have got back?" he said, with but scant civility. "Where is Calabressa?" The tall, pale, stooping man looked round with some caution. "There is no one--no one but Reitzei," said Lind, impatiently. "Calabressa is detained in Naples--the General's orders," said the other, in rather a low voice. "I did not write--I thought it was not safe to put anything on paper; more especially as we discovered that Kirski was being watched." "No wonder," said Lind, scornfully. "A fool of a madman being taken about by a fool of a mountebank!" Edwards stared at him. Surely this man, who was usually the most composed, and impenetrable, and suave of men, must have been considerably annoyed thus to give way to a petulant temper. "But the result, Edwards: well?" "Refused!" Lind laughed sardonically. "Who could have doubted? Of course the council do not think that I approved of that mad scheme?" "At all events, sir," said Edwards, submissively, "you permitted it." "Permitted it! Yes; to please old Calabressa, who imagines himself a diplomatist. But who could have doubted what the end would be? Well, what further?"