"I expect," he said suavely, "that we have all been more or less under a misunderstanding. I am quite sure that when matters are explained this little Comedy of Errors will settle itself."
"I shouldn't wonder," said Tony. "But won't you both sit down and have a cigar? There's no reason we shouldn't be comfortable while we are talking."
He took a box off the mantelpiece and held it out in turn to his two guests. Da Freitas helped himself, and after a second's hesitation the Count followed suit, as though the tempting appearance of the cabanas that it contained had proved too strong for his contemplated refusal.
It was Da Freitas who reopened the conversation. Having seated himself on the broad leather-covered couch against the wall, he took an appreciative pull at his cigar, and then removed it carefully from between his thick lips.
"I suppose," he said, "that you are aware who the young lady is that you have apparently been good-natured enough to assist?"
It was the identical question that Congosta had opened with, and Tony answered it in much the same fashion.
"Why, of course," he said. "When I make new friends I am always most careful about their antecedents."
The Marquis looked up at him sharply, but Tony's face remained absolutely expressionless.
"As you may imagine," continued the former, "it was a cause of infinite relief to the Count and myself to learn that her foolish escapade had had no more serious consequences." He paused. "We should be interested to learn how and under what circumstances you became acquainted."
"We were introduced by a mutual acquaintance in Long Acre," said Tony.