Shall I say you are not receiving ?" I thought for a moment.

Better see him, perhaps.

I might learn something.

If not--if he had only come to torture me uselessly to please himself, I would soon find out, and could send him away.
I went into my little reception-room adjoining, and received him there.
He advanced, smiling, as one advances to a friend of whose welcome one is sure.
"Well ?" I asked, abruptly, when the door was shut and we were alone.

He held out his hand, but I put mine behind me, and drew back a step when he had come too close.
"Well--I have news for you, that no one else could bring, so I thought you would be glad to see--even me," he answered, smiling still.
"What news?
But bad, of course--or you wouldn't bring it." "You are very cruel.