“But one is not supposed to be sensible in affairs of the heart—is it not so? Well, I may not be sensible in this affair—I cannot tell. But I am willing to listen to what they have to say. The Countess Rémond is an emissary from the king, is she not?”
“Yes.”
“And she is inviting me to lunch in order to discuss this affair?”
“Yes.”
“I thought so,” and again she looked at him, with her strange little smile. “What I do not understand is that you also should be there.”
“Ah, madame,” said Selden quickly, “I pointed out to her that you would not like it. I shall not come.”
“But I did not say I did not like it. On the contrary, I wish you to come. Only, if you are an ally of the countess, I must be prepared for you.”
“I am not an ally of the countess,” Selden protested; “not in any sense. I should like to be your ally, madame, if you will have me.”
She glanced at him quickly, then turned her head away for a moment, as though looking for her niece and Davis. Then she looked back at him, and her face was very tender.
“Of course I will have you!” she said, her voice a little thick.