She gave a little start. Somehow his tone—that bantering smile, had accentuated that feeling of familiarity which rendered his person so strangely mysterious.
'Monseigneur le Prince de Froidmont,' she rejoined coldly, 'is sure to command the devotion of those who serve him. He is brave and chivalrous——'
'That was not Madame's opinion of him last night——' he broke in dryly. Then, seeing that his tone had caused her to turn her eyes on him with unfeigned surprise he added somewhat lamely: 'At least ... that is ... that is what Monseigneur gave me to understand last night——'
'It was all a misunderstanding,' she said gently. 'Will you say that to Monseigneur?'
'If Madame desires.'
'I do desire it. And since you know all about the incident, Messire, will you, I pray you, tell your master how deeply I regret the erroneous judgment which I formed of his conduct? Those abominable varlets all crowding round him——'
'Appearances were against Monseigneur, no doubt.'
'And I behaved like a vixen, Messire,' she said with a smile.
'Then give me an army of vixens!' he retorted impulsively.
'Why, Messire, you were not there to see——'