“H’m,” reflected Essington, with a comical look.  “There’s a lot of scaffolding at the bottom of St. James’s Street.  Should we have it down to-night?  Or what do you say to a packet of dynamite in the two-penny tube?”

The Baron sobered down a trifle.

“Ach, not so fast, not qvite so fast, dear Bonker.  Remember I must not get into troble at ze embassy.”

“My dear fellow, that’s your pull.  Foreign diplomatists are police-proof!”

“Ah, but my wife!”

“One stormy hour—­then tears and forgiveness!”

The Baron lowered his voice.

“Her mozzer vill visit us next veek.  I loff and respect Lady Grillyer; but I should not like to have to ask her for forgiveness.”

“Yes, she has rather an uncompromising nose, so far as I remember.”

“It is a kind nose to her friends, Bonker,” the Baron explained, “but severe towards——­”

“Myself, for instance,” laughed Essington.  “Well, what do you suggest?”

“First, zat you dine mit me to-night.  No, I vill take no refusal!  Listen!  I am now meeting a distinguished person on important international business—­do you pairceive?  Ha, ha, ha!  To-night it vill be necessary ve most dine togezzer.  I have an engagement, but he can be put off for soch a great person as the man I am now meeting at ze club!  You vill gom?”

“I should have been delighted—­only unluckily I have a man dining with me.  I tell you what!  You come and join us!  Will you?”

“If zat is ze only vay—­yes, mit pleasure!  Who is ze man?”

“Young Tulliwuddle.  Do you remember going to a dance at Lord Tulliwuddle’s, some five and a half years ago?”

“Himmel!  Ha, ha!  Vell do I remember!”

“Well, our host of that evening died the other day, and this fellow is his heir—­a second or third cousin whose existence was so displeasing to the old peer that he left him absolutely nothing that wasn’t entailed, and never said ‘How-do-you-do?’ to him in his life.  In consequence, he may not entertain you as much as I should like.”

“If he is your friend, I shall moch enjoy his society!”

“I am flattered, but hardly convinced.  Tulliwuddle’s intellect is scarcely of the sparkling kind.  However, come and try.”

The hour, the place, were arranged; a reminiscence or two exchanged; fresh suggestions thrown out for the rejuvenation of a Bavarian magnate; another baronial laugh shook the foundations of the club; and then, as the afternoon was wearing on, the Baron hailed a cab and galloped for Belgrave Square, and the late Mr. Bunker sauntered off along Pall Mall.

“Who can despair of human nature while the Baron von Blitzenberg adorns the earth?” he reflected.  “The discovery of champagne and the invention of summer holidays were minor events compared with his descent from Olympus!”

He bought a button-hole at the street corner and cocked his hat, more airily than ever.