“How long since you have seen Zorogoff?” he asked, going close to her and standing so that the light from the window fell across her face.
“I? Why, not so long ago.” She looked at him with curiosity as to why he had asked the question.
“Have you seen him since you were here?”
She laughed lightly. “If I had, it is quite likely that I would not have come back.”
“Then I’m glad you did not see the Ataman. And please don’t see him, if it is going to mean that you will come no more.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I don’t know what you mean—but it appears that there is an implied compliment. Do you mean it as a compliment?”
“What other things could I mean?”
“You might mean many things.” She shrank away from him now the least bit, as if she distrusted him.
Peter sat down in the chair at the end of the table.
“And what might I mean, for one thing?” he asked with a quick glance at her.