"No—the next day, at my request, we left Monte Carlo. During several months I received letters from him, all of which I tore up without reading, and soon, thank God, I ceased to know whether he existed or not."
"Perhaps it is he who sends the pansies," said Philip.
"Don't talk nonsense," replied Dora.
"But General Sabaroff may not be the man at all."
"I feel sure he must be," said Dora. "The description I have been giving of him corresponds perfectly. Philip, if it should be so, you won't throw me into the society of this man, will you? You won't ask me to make him welcome here?"
A servant came into the room to say that the decorations in the dining-room were finished, and to ask whether Dora would go and give a look to them before the florist left the house.
"Very well," said she to the servant, "I will go."
And, smiling at Philip, she said to him—
"It is understood, then,—you will not insist any more, Philip."
"Curious tricks Fate plays us all!" exclaimed Philip when Dora had gone. "One would think the devil had a hand in it."