But she only smiled.
"I don't mind from you, Sheldon," she said.
"I didn't mean it!" he protested. "I was only talking."
"Just keep on talking," she replied. "I know you didn't mean it that way.—And it is true enough sometimes—and sometimes one doesn't care to drink to either," and she smiled slightly. "How lovely Marcia Emerson is, this evening," she remarked.
"From another woman that is a compliment indeed—but you can well afford to be generous, Stephanie, you can give them all cards and spades and little casino—and the ace of hearts."
"So long as I retain the Jack of Hearts, n'est ce pas?"
"And since you retain all the other hearts—your own included," he replied.
"Consider yourself curtsyed to most profoundly!" she laughed. "Now let us return to Miss Emerson. Warwick Devereux seems to be making pretty fast going—can you overhaul him?"
"I?"
She nodded. "Yes, you—can you?"