His assumption of patronage seemed to provoke her. “Indeed, Count,” she returned, “your intention may have been kind, but it is not so certain that I stood in need of protection—from more than that night’s storm.”
“I think,” he replied, insinuatingly, “that you would not have cared to meet this Captain Rollmar.”
“You might,” she rejoined, with spirit, “have given me the chance, instead of keeping me ignorant of his presence.”
The Count laughed. “The captain has not gone far yet. Shall I send for him?”
The steely blue eyes were on her, lighted with masterful amusement. How she loathed the indignity she could not resent.
“If you are serious you may send for him,” she answered quietly.
For a moment he stood looking at her in silence, in a pause of calculation.
“I shall not send for this Captain Rollmar,” he said at length, speaking with marked deliberation, “for two reasons.”
For an instant her eyes were raised to his face; that was all the invitation he received to state them.
“One,” he proceeded, “is that I would not for the world subject you to the chance or shadow of annoyance. And I have every reason to believe that would be the outcome of my delivering you up to this rough fellow who is pursuing you, and who may have already wreaked his vengeance on your—your escort.”