" "Well, anyway, I shall come home before dinner," he said, looking at his watch.

"Put on your frock coat, so that you can go straight to call on Countess Bola.

" "But is it absolutely necessary?" "Oh, absolutely! He has been to see us.

Come, what is it? You go in, sit down, talk for five minutes of the weather, get up and go away.

" "Oh, you wouldn't believe it! I've got so out of the way of all this that it makes me feel positively ashamed.