first time in his life, but none the less with
unimpeachable sincerity. For a man could do nothing but look at her,
and the man who looked at her had to smile at her; then if she smiled,
the man had to laugh; and what happened afterwards would depend on the
inclinations of the lady: at least it would not be very safe to rely on
the principles of the gentleman.

But now she was not laughing. Genuine and deep distress was visible on
her face.

"Madame la Comtesse--" stammered the dazzled Captain.

For an instant she looked at him, seeming, he thought, to ask if she
could trust him. Then she said impatiently: "Yes, yes; but never mind
that. Who are you? Oh, why did you tell him you were the Count? Oh,
you 've ruined everything!"

"Ruined--?"

"Yes, yes; because now he 'll write to the Count. Oh, I heard your
quarrel. I listened from the window. Oh, I did n't think anybody
could be as stupid as you!"

"Madame!" pleaded the unhappy Captain. "I thought the fellow was a
police-agent on my track, and--"

"On your track? Oh, who are you?"

"My name is Dieppe, madame--Captain Dieppe, at your service." It was
small wonder that a little stiffness had crept into the Captain's
tones. This was not, so far, just the sort of interview which had
filled his dreams. For the first time the glimmer of a smile appeared
on the lady's lips, the ghost of a sparkle in her eyes.

"What a funny name!" she observed reflectively.

"I fail to see the drollery of it."

"Oh, don't be silly and starchy. You 've got us into terrible trouble."

"You?"

"Yes; all of us. Because now--" She broke off abruptly. "How do you
come to be here?" she asked in a rather imperious tone.

Dieppe gave a brief account of himself, concluding with the hope that
his presence did not annoy the Countess. The lady shook her head and
glanced at him with a curious air of inquiry or examination. In spite
of the severity, or even rudeness, of her reproaches, Dieppe fell more
and more in love with her every moment. At last he could not resist a
sly reference to their previous encounter. She raised innocent eyes to
his.

"I saw the door was open, but I did n't notice anybody there," she said
with irreproachable demureness.

The Captain looked at her for a moment, then he began to laugh.

"I myself saw nothing but a cat," said he.

The lady began to laugh.

"You must let me atone for my stupidity," cried Dieppe, catching her
hand.

"I