How was he to do it?
It had become clearer and clearer to him through every ten minutes of the dinner, that the count did not intend to give him any moment for private conversation.

He felt that he was cheated and ill-used, and was waxing angry.

They were to go and smoke in a public room, and he knew, or thought he knew, what that meant.

The count would sit there till he went, and had brought the Colonel Schmoff with him, so that he might be sure of some ally to remain by his side and ensure silence.

And the count, doubtless, had calculated that when Captain Boodle went, as he soon would go, to his billiards, he, Harry Clavering, would feel himself compelled to go also.