Monsieur Leroy reddened and laughed awkwardly, for he was particularly anxious to win her good grace.
"I am not very clever, you know," he said humbly. "You must forgive me."
"Oh certainly," replied Cecilia. "Your explanation is more than adequate. In my mind, the matter had already explained itself. Will you have some tea?"
"No, thank you. My nerves are rather troublesome. If I take tea in the afternoon I cannot sleep at night. I met Guido going away as I came. He was enthusiastic!"
"In what way?"
"About the villa, and the house, and the flowers, and about you." He lowered his voice to a confidential tone as he spoke the last words.
"About me?" Cecilia was somewhat surprised.
"Oh yes! He was overcome by your perfection—like every one else. How could it be otherwise? It is true that Guido has always been very impressionable."
"I should not have thought it," Cecilia said, wishing that the man would go away.
But he would not, and, to make matters worse, nobody would come and oblige him to move. It was plain to the meanest mind that since Cecilia was to marry Princess Anatolie's nephew, the extraordinary person whom the Princess called her secretary must not be disturbed when he was talking to Cecilia, since he might be the bearer of some important message. Besides, a good many people were afraid of him, in a vague way, as a rather spiteful gossip who had more influence than he should have had.