“Those opals are beautiful,” said he, presently.
“I am glad you approve of—the opals.”
“But you put them to a disadvantage.”
“O! is that a compliment? The first you have ever paid me.”
“Do you care about them?”
“From you, yes. I was reading in Saint-Simon's Memoirs yesterday that your ancestor—Charles de Hausée—was the first swordsman, the bravest soldier, the hardest rider, and the best judge of women in France. But let us be serious. Lady Larch is wearing her brightest smile!”
“Must we be very earnest this evening?”
“I am afraid so. You see, I have secured Pole-Knox. He has never been permitted to dine here before.”
“Why not?”
“Because I once told Lady Augusta that he was a man for the shortest part of the afternoon—not for evenings, at all. She couldn't forgive this.”