“I oughtn’t to be here.”

“Absurd. Why not?”

“Fritz has a jealous temperament.”

She spoke with a simple naturalness that moved the diplomat within him to a strong admiration.

“You can act far better than Miss Schley,” he said, with intentional bluntness.

“I love her acting.”

“I’m going away. I shan’t see you for an age. Don’t give me a theatrical performance to-day.”

“Can a woman do anything else?”

“Yes. She can be a woman.”

“That’s stupid—or terrible. What a dear little lamp that is! I like your room.”