"Then you didn't hear the end of my speech?"
"What about it?"
"What about it? Why, the consultations are going to begin—the superlucid clairvoyant Dorothy. Look, I here come some clients ... the bearded nobleman and the gentleman in velveteen ... I like the gentleman in velveteen. He is very polite; and there's no side about his fawn-colored gaiters—the complete gentleman-farmer."
The bearded nobleman was beside himself. He loaded the young girl with extravagant compliments, looking at her the while in an uncommonly equivocal fashion. He introduced himself as "Maxime d'Estreicher," introduced his companion as "Raoul Davernoie," and finally, on behalf of the Countess Octave, invited her to come to tea in the château.
"Alone?" she asked.
"Certainly not," protested Raoul Davernoie with a courteous bow. "Our cousin is anxious to congratulate all your comrades. Will you come, mademoiselle?"
Dorothy accepted. Just a moment to change her frock, and she would come to the château.
"No, no; no toilet!" cried d'Estreicher. "Come as you are.... You look perfectly charming in that slightly scanty costume. How pretty you are like that!"
Dorothy flushed and said dryly:
"No compliments, please."