'Choose what?' asked Elmur in his most deferential manner. 'Madamoiselle's choice in the most trivial matters is of importance.'
Valerie smiled. Not a trace of disturbance was perceptible in her manner, and Elmur, noting it, came to the final conclusion that this girl was not only extraordinarily handsome, but also exceptionally capable. Having made so grievous a mistake, and taken the punishment of it, she was still mistress of herself. It was a gallant spirit, and well worth capturing.
'Major Counsellor has asked me to choose flowers for the ball to-night. I choose roses. I think it is very nice of me, Major Counsellor, for is not the rose the emblem of England?' said the girl, with a coquettish smile at the older man.
Elmur's face clouded. This interfering old fellow had the power of making friends, which means the power of being a dangerous enemy.
'I had hoped,' he said aloud, 'to have the pleasure of begging Mademoiselle to accept my flowers.'
'You are too late, Baron; but perhaps you will escort me to the west tower, where I daresay Madame de Sagan is already waiting for me.'
Counsellor looked after the tall graceful figure of the girl as she ascended the staircase with Elmur at her side. He could see she was still laughing and talking to her companion, but her ready parry of the German's question, including a clear reply to his own, showed him that the Chancellor's daughter was much more than a mere wilful girl.
'John Rallywood,' he grunted, as he turned away, 'is after all not so great an ass as he thinks himself.'
An attendant intercepted the German before he regained the hall, after leaving Valerie with Madame de Sagan.
'My lord desires to speak with your Excellency,' he said.