"Or stupidity, which?" she retorted.
"Shall a man say all of the foolish things which flash into his brain?"
"Why not?" She shrugged, twisting her glass in slow fingers. "If all of the nonsense were taken out of life what would be left, I wonder?"
"I have the honour to entertain the high-born Lady Ygerne Bellaire at dinner," he said in mock deference. "Her request is my command. Shall I voice my second idiotic thought?"
She nodded, making her mouth smile at him while her eyes were gravely speculative.
"Then," and his bow was in accord with the mockery of his tone, "I was thinking that for the reason best known to the King of Fools I'd like to kiss that red mouth of yours, Ygerne!"
"You'd be the first man who had ever done so," she told him steadily.
"Quite sure of that?" he sneered.
"Yes."
"Tempting me further?" he laughed at her.