“Not all,” said she after a pause.
“All men of decent ideas,” said I with emphasis.
“Really?” said she, in a tone that irritated me by suggesting that what I said was both absurd and unimportant.
“It is the first time I've ever seen a respectable woman smoke,” I went on, powerless to change the subject, though conscious I was getting tedious. “I've read of such things, but I didn't believe.”
“That is interesting,” said she, her tone suggesting the reverse.
“I've offended you by saying frankly what I think,” said I. “Of course, it's none of my business.”
“Oh, no,” replied she carelessly. “I'm not in the least offended. Prejudices always interest me.”
I saw Ellersly and his wife sitting in the drawing-room, pretending to talk to each other. I understood that they were leaving me alone with her deliberately, and I began to suspect she was in the plot. I smiled, and my courage and self-possession returned as summarily as they had fled.
“I'm glad of this chance to get better acquainted with you,” said I. “I've wanted it ever since I first saw you.”
As I put this to her directly, she dropped her eyes and murmured something she probably wished me to think vaguely pleasant.