"How did he receive you, Madam?" I asked. "I never knew."
"Why, took my hand in both his, and bowed as though I indeed were queen, he a king."
"Then you got on well?"
"Truly; for he was wiser than his agent, Monsieur. He found answers by asking questions."
"Ah, you were kinder to him than to me?"
"Naturally."
"For instance, he asked—"
"What had been my ball gown that night—who was there—how I enjoyed myself! In a moment we were talking as though we had been friends for years. The Grand Vizier brought in two mugs of cider, in each a toasted apple. Monsieur, I have not seen diplomacy such as this. Naturally, I was helpless."
"Did he perhaps ask how you were induced to come at so impossible a time? My own vanity, naturally, leads me to ask so much as that."
"No, Mr. Calhoun confined himself to the essentials! Even had he asked me I could not have replied, because I do not know, save that it was to me a whim. But at least we talked, over our cider and toasted apples."