"Your Highness likes him?" she asked.
"I do more than like him," I said.
She threw a quick glance up at me.
"Maybe I do, too," she laughed.
"Good," said I; then began to speak of something else. There is just
as proper a point to quit a subject as to start it.
The grass on the bank of the lake was quite dry and Lady Helen
suggested that we sit down.
"This reminds me of a garden in Florence," she said. "Someone might
tell us a story from Boccaccio."
The Marquise held up her hands in affected horror.
"Helen! Helen! You're positively shocking," she said.
"Lady Helen evidently believes in living up to our costumes," I
ventured.
"Why not?" she laughed, "since the masks hide our faces?"
"Very good, my dear," said Lady Vierle, "you tell the first story; we
will take our cue from you."
Lady Helen removed her mask. "Then, that is your first cue," she said.
"I breathe easier," Mademoiselle d'Essoldé remarked.
"We all do," said I--then, suddenly, replaced mine and arose.
"Indulge me for a moment," I said, and sauntered over to the path a
little distance away; nor answered the chaffing that was flung after
me. I had seen a woman in gypsy dress and a cavalier in white coming
slowly down the walk. I did not doubt it was Mrs. Spencer and Lotzen,
and I intended to let them know they were recognized.
As we neared each other, I halted and stared at them with the most
obvious deliberation. The gypsy made some remark to her companion, to
which he nodded. I had little notion they would address me; and,
certainly, none that they would stop. But, there (though whether it
was pure bravado or because my attitude was particularly irritating, I
know not), Lotzen gave me another surprise.
He paused in front of me and looked me over from head to foot.
"Monsieur seems interested," he said, making no effort to disguise his
tones.