"You may see me to my carriage."
"I would that our ambitions were the same," he said, as he unlocked and opened the door. "I am humiliated in refusing you."
"Where there are victors there must be vanquished," I answered, as one who spoke a platitude, for I was disheartened and wretched at my failure.
He took my hand, and raised it to his lips.
"Au revoir, madame."
"Perhaps France can pay more than Russia, Ling Wen?" and I looked at him inquiringly.
"No country can pay better than Russia for secret service, madame," he answered; and then a dull sparkle came into his narrow eyes, and he pushed the door to, and laid his hand upon my arm.
"Sit down," he said, and I walked with him, my eyes cast down upon the carpet, fearful lest he should see the triumph glowing in them; with a grain of fortune, the victory yet was mine.
The inspiration came to me, clear as the noonday sun, when he opened the door for me to leave.
I trembled lest he should detect the new color rising in my cheeks, and with my glance still cast down, I took my seat again, and waited.