"Why, my dear, everyone noticed it and remarked upon it. He neglected his guests and walked with you for a whole hour in the garden. Whatever did you find to talk about all that long time?"
"Nothing," I responded simply. "He only took me round the place. I don't think he cares very much for the people he entertains, or he wouldn't have neglected them in that manner."
"No. But I heard some spiteful things said about yourself," Ulrica remarked.
"By whom?"
"By various people. They said that you had been angling after the old man for a long time—that you had followed him to Nice, in fact."
"Oh, Ulrica!" I cried indignantly. "How can they say such things? Why, you know it was yourself who introduced us."
"I know," she answered rather curtly. "But I didn't expect that you'd make such a fool of yourself as you've done to-night."
"I am not aware that I have made a fool of myself, as you choose to term it," I responded warmly. "Mr. Keppel invited me to walk in the garden, and as his guest I could not very well refuse."
"You know what an ill-bred, vulgar old fellow he is, and you might therefore have had some respect for his guests."
"I know that he is an honest, plain-spoken man," I said calmly. "He may be ill-bred, but, nevertheless, he's more the gentleman than half the over-dressed cads who so perpetually hang about us just because we happen to be both good-looking."