“No; I did not want you to take the Count’s horse.”
“I gathered that,” he said with a smile; “and I have been puzzled for a reason, which perhaps I have no right to seek.”
“The explanation is quite simple,” she replied, smiling now in her turn. “I did not wish the Count detained here till you could bring his horse back.”
“The Count,” he said, “did not seem to share your idea that it would be inconvenient to him.”
“To him? Did I say so?”
“Ah, then to you. You do not like Count Zarka?”
Without looking at him she gave a little impatient shake of the head. “Not very much.”
“I thought so yesterday.” The girl was silent. “Perhaps,” he added, “I can guess why.”
“It is scarcely worth speculating about,” she said with a touch of pride. “Ah, here is my father.”
Herr Harlberg had sauntered from the house, and now came towards them with a not particularly gracious look on his discontented face. Von Tressen paid his respects, explained the object of his call, and expressed his relief at the doctor’s favourable report. Then, accepting a hint from Harlberg’s manner that he had stayed long enough, he took his leave.