“He is so restless,” she said. “I can never tell how long he will stand any one place. Just at present he talks as though he were disposed to settle down here for the rest of his life.”
Marie leaned forward. Her face gleamed pale in the twilight, her tone was almost openly contemptuous.
“Away from the electric cars, and sirens, and all the delights of your Western cities?”
Sara nodded gravely.
“Yes! Away even from the Paris edition of the New York Herald. But then, my father, you know, is terribly mercenary. I believe he thinks that there is scope for the capitalist here.”
“Your father is quite right then,” Ughtred answered, smiling. “Try and persuade him to give the place a trial. It is supposed, you know, to be the healthiest spot in Europe.”
“Why, I’m in no hurry to leave, and that’s a fact,” Mr. Van Decht admitted. “I’ve an appointment with the manager of your cars here to-morrow, and if we do business I guess I’ll have to stop.”
Sara laughed softly.
“That’s just like father!” she exclaimed. “Wherever he goes and finds horse-cars he wants to either buy the company out or put in his own system of electric cars. I’m afraid you think we’re very commercial, don’t you, Countess?”
“Oh, no,” Marie answered, coldly. “One rather expects that, you know, from your nation. It is very interesting. I must confess, though, that I do not wish to see electric cars in the streets of Theos.”