'Surely,' the Countess answered.
'Then it can be no secret to you that he has--formed an attachment to you. It would be strange if he had not,' the Count added gallantly.
'And he has asked you to speak for him?' my lady exclaimed, in an odd tone.
'No, not exactly. But----'
'You think that it--it would be a good match for me,' she said, her voice trembling, but whether with tears or laughter, I could not tell. 'You think that, being a woman, and for the present houseless, and almost friendless, I should do well to marry him?'
'He is a brave and honest man,' the Count muttered, looking all ways--and looking very miserable. 'And he loves you!' he added with an effort.
'And you think that I should marry him?' my lady persisted mercilessly. 'Answer me, if you please, Count Leuchtenstein, or you are a poor ambassador.'
'I am not an ambassador,' he replied, thus goaded. 'But I thought----'
'That I ought to marry him?'
'If you love him,' the Count muttered.