OCTOBER 269 



lack of grace ; John, still more awkwardly, 

 followed suit. 



"Now," said Peter, seating himself 

 after the little ceremony, "we'll go into 

 this important business which gi'es me 

 the pleasure o' your company." He 

 looked at each of us, inquiringly, in turn ; 

 his singularly straightforward blue eyes 

 finally resting on Bismarck. 



Was Bismarck as uncomfortable as 

 myself? I hoped and believed that he 

 was. But for him, we should never have 

 been there. I should have liked to be 

 there with countenance unashamed ; but 

 we had blundered. We were aggressive 

 fools. Peter, leaning forward, his elbows 

 resting on his knees, paused for answer. 

 He was master of the awkward situation. 

 He was not at all angry ; I thought, in- 

 deed, that he was keeping amusement in 

 restraint. However that may have been, 

 he was indulgent. As Bismarck stayed 

 silent for a few moments, no doubt in the 

 process of collecting his scattered inten- 

 tions, Peter resumed. 



