Zat vill prepare her in case I am avay longer zan ve
expect."

"And how did she take that intimation?" asked
Essington, with a less congratulatory air than he had
expected.

"I did leave her in tears."

"My dear Baron, fly to her to tell her you are not
going to China! She will get so devilish alarmed if
you are gone a week that she'll go straight to the embassy
and make inquiries."

He shook his head, and added in an impressive
voice--

"Never lie for lying's sake, Blitzenberg. Besides,
how do you propose to forge a Chinese post-mark?"

The Baron had laid the foundations of his Russian
trip on a sound basis by requesting a friend of his in
that country to post to the Baroness the bi-weekly
budgets of Muscovite gossip which he intended to compose
at Hechnahoul. This, it seemed to him, would be a
simple feat, particularly with his friend Bunker to
assist; but he had to confess that the provision of Chinese
news would certainly be more difficult.

"Ach, vell, I shall contradict China," he agreed.