"I tell you, Monsieur, that you are in great danger, here at this moment. Don't you understand?"
"I understand what you say," he said smiling at her lazily.
"It's the truth--" she repeated. "Danger--of--death--sudden--at any time."
"I am so contented, Madame. I can imagine no moment more agreeable in which to die."
"You anger me. Have you no eyes to see what is going on about you?"
Rowland straightened and glanced carelessly over his shoulder.
"And what is going on about me?" he asked.
"You have become--in a moment--the most important single figure in Europe. You do not believe me. It is true. Around you, here at Nemi, seethes a struggle of nations gasping for breath and you sit and look into my eyes and dream."
"You must blame that upon your eyes," he whispered.
She shrugged, moved impatiently and then after looking cautiously around them into the shrubbery, turned toward him again.