"I'm afraid so," he said. "You see, nowadays, chivalry doesn't exist far north or south of the equator."
She shrugged her shoulders.
"I carry my own climate, my own atmosphere," she said.
The Secretary bowed.
"No? You are not convinced? I had thought better of you."
"You see," he said, feeling it wiser to be blunt, feeling that he must, if possible, bring this wayward, entrancing, fantastic creature within the limits of practical common sense. "You see, your precious husband has been making trumped-up charges against me, on your account, which are highly unpleasant."
"He is a beast!"
"Quite so, but as far as circumstantial evidence goes, he has some cause on his side. Your arrival at my private apartments in London was most unfortunate; but your following me here was simply the worst sort of foolishness."
The Secretary was aggrieved and showed it; but the result of his plaint was most unexpected.
His fair companion sprang to her feet and gave him a flashing glance, that startled him out of the fancied security of his egotism.