"You have really never told me who gave that million dollars."
"But you know?"
"Well, after a fashion. It.... I presume it was Stillman."
This was not as she had planned the scene and she had a feeling that she was making slight progress.
"Yes, you are right! I have never had anything in my life so touching! Isn't it wonderful, Claire? This is a tribute to me, you understand. After all, he can have no real interest in Serbia."
She drew back in her seat. His face was eager and full of simple faith and enthusiasm.
"It is very curious," Danilo went on. "He could have given it to some other cause. He is very fond of Belgium, for instance. But he picked Serbia. Are you not proud of me, Claire?"
He held his hand out to her across the table. She gave him her fingers and he pressed them warmly.
"Why do you not tell me that you are proud of me?" he insisted, as she stared at him with silent, almost frightened eyes. "Do you not think that a man who can inspire the gift of a million dollars for his native land has reason to be conceited?"
"Every reason ... every reason," she forced herself to murmur.