“You will not always be my enemy, I hope, M. American.”
“I could never be anything but your friend—even prisoner as I am.”
“Shall I order your carriage, monsieur?” with smiling audacious banter. “My guest has but to express his wishes here; my whole household is at his command.”
“You know why I cannot go. I am afraid of the other—Helga.” I paused before her name, and she flushed when I used it.
“All Helga could be such a friend, if you would let her.”
“Well, she has a very willing captive—how willing, you do not seem to realize.”
She lowered her eyes and stood with bent head for a moment in silence. Then she lifted it and looked frankly into my face.
“I should not have thought, now that I have seen you, that you could be so hard.”
“Should I not rather say that to you? It is I who am the conquered, you the conqueror. And you laid claim to generosity.”
“Am I not generous?”