“That you will have to find out,” said the other.  “It is not my business to tell you.  But I don’t mind saying that as I have been told I thought perhaps you might have been.”

“Told what?” exclaimed Mr. Du Brant again, stepping up closer to the other.

“Don’t shout so,” said Locker; “they will think we are quarreling.  Didn’t I say I am not the person to tell you anything, and if you did not understand me I will say it again.”

For some seconds the Austrian looked steadily at his companion.  Then he said, “Have you been refused by Miss Asher?”

“Well,” said Locker with a sigh, “as that is my business, I suppose I can talk about it if I want to.  Yes, I have.”

Again Du Brant was silent for a time.  “Did she tell you herself?” he asked.

“No, she did not,” was the answer.  “She kindly sent me word by Mrs. Easterfield.  I suppose your turn has not come yet.  I was at the head of the list.”  And, fearing that if he stayed longer he might say too much, Mr. Locker walked slowly away, whistling disjointedly as he went.

That evening Mrs. Easterfield discovered that she had been deprived of the anticipated pleasure of conveying to Mr. Du Brant the message which Olive had sent him.  That gentleman, unusually polite and soft-spoken, found her by herself, and thus accosted her:  “You must excuse me, madam, for speaking upon a certain subject without permission from you, but I have reason to believe that you are the bearer of a message to me from Miss Asher.”

“How in the world did you find that out?” she asked.

“It was the—­Locker,” he answered.  “I do not think it was his intention to inform me fully; he is not a master of words and expressions; he is a little blundering; but, from what he said, I supposed you were kind enough to be the bearer of such a message.”

“Yes,” said Mrs. Easterfield; “not being able to be here herself, Miss Asher requested me to say to you that she must decline—­”

“Excuse me, madam,” he interrupted, “but it is I who decline.  I bear toward you, madam, the greatest homage and respect, but what I had the honor to say to Miss Asher I said to her alone, and it is only from her that it is possible for me to receive an answer.  Therefore, madam, it is absolutely necessary that I decline to be a party to the interview you so graciously propose.  It breaks my heart, my dear madam, even to seem unwilling to listen to anything you might deign to say to me, but in this case I must be firm, I must decline.  Can you pardon me, dear madam, for speaking as I have been obliged to speak?”

“Oh, of course,” said Mrs. Easterfield.  “And really, since you know so much, it is not necessary for me to tell you anything more.”

“Ah,” said the diplomat, with a little bow and an incredulous expression, as if the lady could have no idea what he might yet know, “I am so much obliged to you!  I am so thankful!”