Her smile disarmed him.
"You are far from transparent, Countess," he said quizzically.
"And if I were?"
"It would probably be because you wished me to see something beyond," with a laugh.
"To one who deals in mystery and intrigue, sincerity must always be bewildering."
"H—m! I was once stabbed in the back by a woman who was too sincere."
The smile left Marishka's face. "How terrible!"
"It was. I nearly died. It was my mistake, you see."
Marishka was silent for a long moment. And then,
"I'm afraid, Captain Goritz, that the world has left you bitter."