"There was a time, not so long ago," she said, drawing his gaze as a magnet draws a needle, "when the disparity in years was of no matter."
The count laughed. "That was three years ago; and, if my memory serves me, you smiled."
"Perhaps I was first to smile; that is all."
"I observe a mental reservation,"—owlishly.
"I will put it plainly, then. I preferred to smile over your protestations rather than see you laugh over the possibility and the folly of my loving you."
"Then it was possible?"—with interest.
"Everything is possible … and often absurd."
"How do you know that I was not truly in love with you?"—narrowing his eyes.
"It is not explanatory; it can be given only one name—instinct, which in women and animals is more fully developed than in man. Besides, at that time you had not learned all about Colonel Annesley, whose guests we are to be this evening. Whoever would have imagined a Karloff accepting the hospitalities of an Annesley? Count, hath not thy rose a canker?"
"Madam!" Karloff was frowning.