A servant was going towards the house carrying carelessly a small silver salver.

The Baron was standing with an unopened envelope in his hand.
"You will permit me, Madame," they heard him say with his strident little self-satisfied laugh.

"A man of affairs is the slave of the moment.

And the affairs of state are never still.

A great country moves even in its sleep." Having the permission of Madame, he tore open the envelope, enjoying the importance of the moment.