“You shall know everything,” agreed the baron; “and furthermore I can promise you, if we succeed, not only—shall we say satisfaction?—but a material reward—a substantial one.”
“We can speak of that later,” said the countess, “after I have consented. But why do you come to me? What is it I can do?”
“I come to you,” replied the baron, “in the first place because you are a clever woman, and in the second place because you have lived in America for a long time, and I suppose you understand that people. As for me, I confess I never do.”
“You mean the women?”
“But naturally. The men—they are not difficult to understand. Though I sometimes wonder if they can really be as simple as they appear.”
“They are,” said the countess. “Children. Bad ones, sometimes, but still children, good at heart.”
“They seem so to me,” agreed the baron.
“Then it is not this M. Selden?”
“No—though he is important also. Unfortunately at this moment it is the question of a woman—two women—perhaps even three women! It is a difficult matter—very difficult; but there is one thing that simplifies it—one of these women is very ambitious and very ignorant.”
“That goes without saying,” commented the countess, “if she is a rich American. But if you will cease speaking in riddles....”