"No. If I had, you should have known it before this. My own motives, or rather, the lack of them—but we won't talk about it any more."
She made as though to step past him but he did not move.
"But you must talk about it," he said. "Are our relations thus to be brushed away—by misunderstanding? Anne, have I been utterly misled? What is it, Anne? I command you to speak."
"Will you please let me pass?"
"No, not until you have answered me." There was crisp savagery in his voice.
Anne, now trembling with anger, turned quickly upon him.
"Very well, I shall answer you. I don't love you and I can't love you and I won't love you. I resent your actions. You have been making this house headquarters for your diplomatic schemes and when they have gone astray, you have made us all the creatures of your irritable whims. You made me a laughing stock when you backed out of the theatre party, and have done nothing but consider your own convenience irrespective of any plans I may have formed for your entertainment. You were so disagreeable last night at dinner that I wept for very shame after it. And—and—now you have your answer."
For a moment Koltsoff stood erect, as though frozen by her words. Then he bent his head forward menacingly.
Anne laughed.
"We are not in Monaco—or Russia, Prince Koltsoff, but in the United States."