“Oh no; I’m to fix the prices myself.”
“Are not transactions of that kind rather disagreeable—with a lady whose hospitality one has been enjoying?” Mr. Vetch inquired.
“Exceedingly! That’s exactly why I shall do the books and then take no money.”
“Your princess is rather clever!” the fiddler coldly laughed.
“Well, she can’t force me to take it if I won’t,” said Hyacinth.
“No; you must only let me do that.”
“You’ve curious ideas about me,” the young man declared.
Mr. Vetch turned about to the window again, remarking that he had curious ideas about everything. Then he added after an interval: “And have you been making love to your great lady?”
He had expected a flash of impatience in reply to this appeal and was rather surprised at the manner in which Hyacinth began: “How shall I explain? It’s not a question of that sort.”
“Has she been making love to you then?”