Part 3 (2/2)
”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 wonder if you could!”
”I will, or die in the attempt. Tell me how!” And the Captain kissed the hand that he had captured.
”There are conditions.”
”Not too hard?”
”First, you must n't breathe a word to the Count of having seen me or--or anybody else.”
”I should n't have done that, anyhow,” remarked Dieppe, with a sudden twinge of conscience.
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