"Indeed!" he said. "In England?" His tone was courteous and attentive, but neither curious nor interested.
Her colour deepened.
"No. Here in Venice—this morning. I was in Mr. Barnard's gondola when you were coming from the station to your hotel."
He looked at her, then at Barnard—a perfectly honest, unaffected glance.
"Indeed!" he said again. "I certainly remember seeing that Barnard was not alone, but I was remiss enough not to notice who the lady was."
For one second a feeling of resentment—almost of dislike—stung Clodagh. The next, her old daring mood of years ago sprang up within her.
"Where I come from," she said, "no man would have the courage to say that."
Barnard laughed.
"Assume a virtue, if you have it not! Is that the Irish code?"
Gore smiled.