"As a matter of fact, it was you that I wanted to see," he said, "and alone, if possible."
She glanced at the girl. "Is it your will to leave at the desire of the little father?"
"The will of one is the will of all," said the girl, picked up her sewing and went through a door at the back as Mrs. Samsonov faced Heidekopfer. "What is it you desire to say, Robert Murrayovich?"
He hesitated. "Well, it's rather difficult, and I hope you won't be offended—but—"
"In happy Tolstoia we do not take offense at what Nature gives us to do."
"That's very nice of you. Well, it's about Miss Starnes—Ann Samuelovna."
"She is very beautiful."
"That's just the trouble, I'm afraid. Did you know that she went to look at flowers with your husband this afternoon?"
Anna Gulyevna's smile became a trifle more Mona Lisa than before, if possible. "Yes, I knew it."
"And it doesn't worry you? Not even a little bit?"