“At his pressing invitation. Is that strange?”
“Oh, no. Why should it be?”
“You seemed surprised.”
“No. Perhaps—I—” she stopped in some confusion.
“The Count is a peculiar man, you meant, perhaps?”
“You may know him now as well as I,” she returned with a forced smile. The mention of Zarka seemed to chill her.
“I do not know him at all well,” he rejoined. “I should much like to know him better.”
She started in apprehensive surprise. “To know him better? Count Zarka?” she repeated.
“Yes,” he answered. “For there seems a mystery about the man which, between ourselves, Fräulein, I should like to solve.”
“Oh, no, no!” She glanced round instinctively, as though in fear that the man they spoke of might be lurking near them. Then as she turned again to her companion, he saw in her eyes a look of dread which did not tend to mitigate the feelings he entertained towards the lord of Rozsnyo.