"Tell me," cried Florence. "You are engaged?"
"Mercy, no!"
"Is he rich?"
"No. Money should not matter when your heart is involved."
As this thought was in accord with her own, Florence nodded her head sagely.
"It's nothing serious. Just a fancy. I shall never marry again. Men are gay deceivers; they always have been and always will be. Perhaps I'm a bit wicked; but I rather like to prove my theory that all men are weak. If I had a daughter I'd rather have her be an old man's darling than a young man's drudge. I distrust every man I know. I came to ask you and Susan to go to the opera with me to-night. You will come to my apartments first. You will come?"
"To be sure we will!"
"Simple little fool!" thought the Russian on the way home. "She shall see."
"I believe the countess is engaged to be married," said Florence to Jones.
"Indeed, miss?"