"True."
"And it is scarcely a month since then."
"Only twenty-nine days, I've counted them."
"And meanwhile winter has come?"
"It has."
After that she began to laugh maliciously. She leaped to her feet and rumpled my frizzly hair with her fingers.
"Let's leave the matter till after dinner; then I'll tell you everything. But don't let us spoil a good dinner in the meantime. You are quite horrified at me now, and fancy that I've laid a trap for you. You will see later on that this serious business of mine is not a joke. Let us leave it till after the black coffee."
I revived again. The lady was capricious, and it suited her.
"I was determined to give you a good dinner. I owe you your revenge. It is a long time since we dined together. Last time I was your guest. Don't you remember? At the Pagan Altar. I never ate so heartily. What splendid toast you had! And the bacon, too, broiled on a stick! Why, I've got the taste of that good red pepper of yours in my mouth to this day! And now I mean to give you hospitality that you will remember for a long time!"
This again was delightfully reassuring! She was of the true cat species—she purrs and fondles, but one must be continually on one's guard against her claws.