"You are very good, Contessa––"
"There! You hear, it is settled."
"If—Lord Lane makes you a visit, I will also, as you are kind enough to want me."
Afterwards, when we had bidden the Contessa and her guardian dragons good-night, and it was arranged that we were to stay over to-morrow, on account of the lost bag, I said to the Boy on the way upstairs, "You've made a conquest of the Contessa."
He blushed furiously, looked angry, and then burst out laughing. "Are you jealous?" he asked.
"I ought to be."
"But are you?"
"I haven't had time to analyse my emotions. Why did you never tell me you sang?"
"I wasn't ready—till to-night. Now—I sang for you."
"I thought it was for the Contessa."