“Fräulein von Hochstadt’s playing had an added delight for me,” Herriard said, his laugh giving way to a little tremor of feeling, “since under cover of the music Countess Alexia did me the honour to promise to be my wife.”
“Ah!” It seemed not altogether unexpected by her brother, and Herriard was glad to see no opposition in his eyes. “So!” He bowed in acknowledgment of the news with Austrian courtliness.
“My sister’s happiness is mine. Alix,” he took her hands in his, then kissed her on both cheeks, “I wish you joy.” He turned to Geoffrey. “Herriard, you have my warmest wishes, and as the best of sisters should be the best of wives, I give them with all confidence.” He shook his hands warmly, and so it was settled.
As the hour was yet early, Herriard stayed for a while longer, and Alexia kept them company in the smoking-room. There they talked happily, laughing over plans for the future. Alexia told her brother he would have to find a wife now that she would be leaving him.
“Ah,” he objected, “I have some work to do first. I must rise a little higher in my profession before that comes to pass.”
“You are not likely to make an unfortunate choice, Count,” Herriard said, “and therefore need not pay women a bad compliment. With a wife such as my good fortune has given me I anticipate no drawback in my profession.”
Prosper smiled. “When I have risen as high in my service as you have in yours, my dear fellow, it will be time for me to think about matrimony.”
Herriard gave a deprecating head-shake. “I have much to do yet,” he said, with more conviction than they gave him credit for, as he thought how he had now to work and fight alone. “To an ambitious man, everything.”
Prosper laughed again. “I am glad to see that you are modest as well as ambitious. All the same, my dear Herriard, it is generally admitted that you have won for yourself a most enviable and honourable position.”
The word honourable grated on Herriard’s sense of the fitting. “No! no!” he protested, with the impulsive vehemence of awakened shame.