“A good wig spoiled!” croaked Haggerstone. “They then brought a b-b-b----” “A baby, sir?” “No, not a b-baby, a b-basin--a silver basin--and they poured water over both their hands.” “A ceremony by no means in accordance with Russian prejudices,” chimed in Haggerstone. “They know far more of train-oil and bears' fat than of brown Windsor!” “Not the higher nobility, Colonel,--not the people of rank,” objected Mrs. Ricketts. “There are none such, madam. I have lived in intimacy with them all, from Alexander downwards. You may dress them how you please, but the Cossack is in the blood. Raw beef and red breeches are more than instincts with them; and, except the Poles, they are the dirtiest nation of Europe.” “What you say of Polen?” asked Petrolaffsky. “That if oil could smooth down the acrimony of politics, you ought to be a happy people yet, sir.” “And we are a great people dis minet. Haven't we Urednfrskioctsch, de best general in de world; and Krakouventkay, de greatest poet; and Vladoritski, de most distinguish pianist?” “Keep them, sir, with all their consonants; and Heaven give you luck with them,” said Haggerstone, turning away. “On Tuesday--no, We-Wednesday next, they are to set out for St. P-P-Petersburg. And when the Emperor's leave is gr-granted, then Midchekoff is to follow; but not before.” “An de tyrant no grant de leave,” said the Pole, gnashing his teeth and grasping an imaginary dagger in his wrath. “More like he send her to work in shains, wid my beautiful sisters and my faders.” “He'll have more important matters to think of soon, sir,” said Haggerstone, authoritatively. “Europe is on the eve of a great convulsion. Some kings and kaisers will accept the Chiltern Hundreds before the year's out.” “Shall we be safe, Colonel, here? Ought Martha and I--” “Have no fears, madam; age commands respect, even from Huns and Croats. And were it otherwise, madam, where would you fly to? France will have her own troubles, England has the income-tax, and Germany will rake up some old grievance of the Hohenstaufen, or the Emperor Conrad, and make it a charge against Prince Metternich and the Diet! It's a very rascally world altogether, and out of Tattersall's yard I never expect to hear of honesty or good principles; and, _à propos_ to nothing, let us have some piquet, Count.” The table was soon got ready, and the players had just seated themselves, when the sound of carriage-wheels in the court attracted their attention. “What can it mean, Scroope? Are you quite certain that you said I wouldn't receive to-night?” “Yes; I told them what you b-bade me; that if the Archduke called----” “There, you need n't repeat it,” broke in Mrs. Ricketts, for certain indications around Haggerstone's mouth showed the sense of ridicule that was working within him. “I suppose, madam, you feel somewhat like poor Pauline, when she said that she was so beset with kings and kaisers she had never a moment left for good society?”