The Baron looked into these eyes, and his own mien altered perceptibly. For an instant he gazed, and then in a low voice remarked—
“By ze Gad!”
“Once!” counted the conscientious Bunker.
“Lord Tulliwuddle,” she continued, “I declare I feel so ashamed of those stupid men, I could just wring their necks! Now, just to make us quits, you ask me anything in the world you like!”
Over his shoulder the Baron threw a stealthy glance at his friend, but this time he did not invoke his assistance. Instead, he again murmured very distinctly—
“By ze Gad!”
“Twice!” counted Bunker.
“Miss Maddison,” said the Baron to the flushed and eager girl, “am I to onderstand zat you now are satisfied zat I am not too vicked, too suspeecious, too unvorthy of your charming society? I do not say I am yet vorthy—bot jost not too bad!”
Had the Baroness at that moment heard merely the intonation of his voice, she would undoubtedly have preferred a Chinese prison.
“Indeed, Lord Tulliwuddle, you may.”