"You made that remark before, Lady James."
"True, and I make it again, to emphasise my meaning, though I hate repetition. Demetrius loves you."
"No, no! It is you who----"
"Pish! His heart is yours; his science mine."
"His science!" Mademoiselle Aksakoff looked surprised.
"What else do you think attracted me? I am an English cat, and I have no lovers. Do you remember La Fontaine's fable?"
"Lady James, be plain with me."
"I am trying to be. You think that I love Demetrius, and that he is devoted to me. It is not so."
Katinka winced. She did not like such plain speaking, and, moreover, doubted its truth. "If I could think so, I would----"
"Of course you can think so," said Lady Jim, amiably. "Demetrius is particularly clever in curing consumptive diseases. For that reason I conversed with him a great deal. My husband is very ill, and I wanted the doctor to cure him. If Demetrius thought that my liking for his society meant anything else, he is an egotist. My advice is, that you should procure his pardon and marry him."