I replied politely and suitably, and Clelia presently piloted this dark, lean, vivacious young man to his quarters across the corridor from General von Dungheim.
When she returned her flushed, set features arrested my attention. "Did that Turk annoy you, Clelia?" I asked sharply.
She shrugged: "Tavern gallantry," she replied briefly: "men of that sort are prone to it."
I said: "If any of these people annoy you and Thusis come to me at once."
She laughed: "Dear Monsieur O'Ryan," she said, "Thusis and I know how to take care of ourselves." She came nearer, looking up at me out of her lovely, friendly eyes:
"Thusis is in her room. It isn't very proper, of course, but she is waiting for you. Will you go?"
"Yes."
Clelia laid one hand lightly on my arm, and her smile became wistful and troubled:
"You do care for my sister, don't you?"
"I am deeply in love with her."