“The surprise may be to find you in Belgrade.”
“Oh, yes, that of course—but not that I should wish to see you.” She had always been clever in turning my words back upon me.
“I am afraid you misunderstand me,” I said after a pause. “I meant to ask you if there was anything I could do for you?”
“Would you do it, Chase?” she cried with quick daring, flashing her eyes upon me. “I wonder if you would. I should like to think so.”
“Will you regard the question as put quite formally? This visit is quite unexpected, and as I am a somewhat busy man just now, my time is very much occupied.”
“I am still standing,” she answered, unexpectedly.
I placed a chair for her and she sat down, gracefully—she did all things gracefully—and smiled. “How long can you spare me?” She put the question lightly, with mockery in every accent.
“I have engagements right through the day. Baroness....”
She interposed with a quick gesture, rose suddenly and looked at me as if I had insulted her by this use of her title, and her lips opened as if to give her protest utterance; but she merely sighed and shrugged her shoulders, and sat down again. A very effective piece of acting—but no more than acting.
In reply I glanced at the card which I still held in my hand.