“Did you suggest that to him?”

“I did not intimate who the sensible person was, but I elucidated the principle of the thing.”

“Yes, and what did he say?”

“Many things, Dorothy, many things.  At one time he became confidential about his possessions in foreign lands.  It seems he owns several castles, and when he visits any of them he cannot prevent the moujiks, if that is the proper term for the peasantry over there, from prostrating themselves on the ground as he passes by, beating their foreheads against the earth, and chanting, in choice Russian, the phrase:  ‘Defer, defer, here comes the Lord High Executioner,’ or words to that effect.  I told him I didn’t see why he should interfere with so picturesque a custom, and he said if I visited one of his castles that these estimable people, at a word from him, would form a corduroy road in the mud with their bodies, so that I might step dry-shod from the carriage to the castle doors, and I stipulated that he should at least spread a bit of stair carpet over the poor wretches before I made my progress across his front yard.”

“Well, you did become confidential if you discussed a visit to Russia.”

“Yes, didn’t we?  I suppose you don’t approve of my forward conduct?”

“I am sure you acted with the utmost prudence, Kate.”

“I didn’t lose any time, though, did I?”

“I don’t know how much time is required to attain the point of friendship you reached.  I am inexperienced.  It is true I have read of love at first sight, and I am merely waiting to be told whether or not this is an instance of it.”

“Oh, you are very diffident, aren’t you, sitting there so bashfully!”

“I may seem timid or bashful, but it’s merely sleepiness.”

“You’re a bit of a humbug, Dorothy.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know why, but you are.  No, it was not a case of love at first sight.  It was a case of feminine vengeance.  Yes, you may look surprised, but I’m telling the truth.  After I walked so proudly off with his high mightiness, we had a most agreeable dance together; then I proposed to return to you, but the young man would not have it so, and for the moment I felt flattered.  By and by I became aware, however, that it was not because of my company he avoided your vicinity, but that he was sacrificing himself for his friend.”

“What friend?”

“Lieutenant Drummond, of course.”

“How was he sacrificing himself for Lieutenant Drummond?”

“I surmise that the tall Lieutenant did not fall a victim to my wiles as I had at first supposed, but, in some unaccountable manner, one can never tell how these things happen; he was most anxious to be left alone with the coy Miss Dorothy Amhurst, who does not understand how long a time it takes to fall in love at first sight, although she has read of these things, dear, innocent girl.  The first villain of the piece has said to the second villain of the piece:  ’There’s a superfluous young woman over on our bench; I’ll introduce you to her.  You lure her off to the giddy dance, and keep her away as long as you can, and I’ll do as much for you some day.’