“I have a great regard for the President. He has been most kind to me. He has shown me real affection.”
“The devil he has!” I muttered.
“I beg your pardon?” said she.
“I only said, ‘Of course he has.’ The President has the usual complement of eyes.”
The signorina smiled again, but went on as if I hadn’t spoken.
“On the other hand, I cannot disguise from myself that some of his measures are not wise.”
I said I had never been able to disguise it from myself.
“The colonel, of course, is of the same opinion,” she continued. “About the debt, for instance. I believe your bank is interested in it?”
This was no secret, so I said:
“Oh, yes, to a considerable extent.”