“No, no⁠—prince, not now! Now is a dream! And it is too, too important! It is to be the hour of Fate to me⁠— my own hour. Our interview is not to be broken in upon by every chance comer, every impertinent guest⁠—and there are plenty of such stupid, impertinent fellows”⁠—(he bent over and whispered mysteriously, with a funny, frightened look on his face)⁠—“who are unworthy to tie your shoe, prince. I don’t say mine , mind⁠—you will understand me, prince. Only you understand me, prince⁠—no one else. He doesn’t understand me, he is absolutely⁠— absolutely unable to sympathize. The first qualification for understanding another is Heart.”

The prince was rather alarmed at all this, and was obliged to end by appointing the same hour of the following day for the interview desired. The general left him much comforted and far less agitated than when he had arrived.