‘You’re very nice!’

She was satisfied, and for a moment she forgot Pompeo Stromboli, the Elisir d’Amore, the public, and the critics.  It was particularly ‘nice’ of him, too, not to insist upon being told that she had put on the new creation solely for his benefit.  Next to not assuming rashly that a woman means anything of the sort expressly for him, it is wise of a man to know when she really does, without being told.  At least, so Margaret thought just then; but it is true that she wanted him to amuse her and was willing to be pleased.

She executed the graceful swaying movement which only a well-made woman can make just before sitting down for the first time in a perfectly new gown.  It is a slightly serpentine motion; and as there is nothing to show that Eve did not meet the Serpent again after she had taken to clothes, she may have learnt the trick from him.  There is certainly something diabolical about it when it is well done.

Logotheti’s almond-shaped eyes watched her quietly, and he stood motionless till she was established on her chair.  Then he seated himself at a little distance.

‘I hope I was not rude,’ he said, in artful apology, ’but it’s not often that one’s breath is taken away by what one sees.  Horrid weather all day, wasn’t it?  Have you been out at all?’

’No.  I’ve been moping.  I told you that I was in a bad humour, but I don’t want to talk about it now that I feel better.  What have you been doing?  Tell me all sorts of amusing things, where you have been, whom you have seen, and what people said to you.’

‘That might be rather dull,’ observed the Greek.

’I don’t believe it.  You are always in the thick of everything that’s happening.’

’We have agreed to-day to lend Russia some more money.  But that doesn’t interest you, does it?  There’s to be a European conference about the Malay pirates, but there’s nothing very funny in that.  It would be more amusing to hear the pirates’ view of Europeans.  Let me see.  Some one has discovered a conspiracy in Italy against Austria, and there is another in Austria against the Italians.  They are the same old plots that were discovered six months ago, but people had forgotten about them, so they are as good as new.  Then there is the sad case of that Greek.’

‘What Greek?  I’ve not heard about that.  What has happened to him?’

‘Oh, nothing much.  It’s only a love-story—­the same old thing.’

‘Tell me.’

’Not now, for we shall have to go to dinner just when I get to the most thrilling part of it, I’m sure.’  Logotheti laughed.  ’And besides,’ he added, ’the man isn’t dead yet, though he’s not expected to live.  I’ll tell you about your friend Mr. Feist instead.  He has been very ill too.’

‘I would much rather know about the Greek love-story,’ Margaret objected.  ‘I never heard of Mr. Feist.’

She had quite forgotten the man’s existence, but Logotheti recalled to her memory the circumstances under which they had met, and Feist’s unhealthy face with its absurdly youthful look, and what he had said about having been at the Opera in New York on the night of the explosion.