"I would it were your lips," he said.
"Which only proves my proposition—and, possibly your own. You may be dangerous, as well as fascinating," she replied. "Perchance, here is one who can tell better than I—she knows more of the world and the ways of men. Miss Stirling, is Sir Edward dangerous as well as fascinating, or, simply, fascinating?" and, with a gay laugh, she left them.
For a moment, Miss Stirling looked after her with a puzzled air; then, she turned to Sir Edward.
"What have you been doing?" she asked.
"Nothing," he replied.
She smiled. "Nothing? and yet she leaves me such a question?"
"Which you can answer?" he asked.
"The answer is evident enough. Are you not ashamed, sir, to play your fine manners against the innocent?"
"By the innocent, I assume, you mean Miss Marbury?"