E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan, and the Project
Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
1915
The woman leaned across the table towards her companion.
"My friend," she said, "when we first met—I am ashamed, considering thatI dine alone with you to-night, to reflect how short a time ago—youspoke of your removal here from Paris very much as though it were averitable exile. I told you then that there might be surprises in storefor you. This restaurant, for instance! We both know our Paris, yet do welack anything here which you find at the Ritz or Giro's?"
The young man looked around him appraisingly. The two were dining at oneof the newest and most fashionable restaurants in Berlin. The roomitself, although a little sombre by reason of its oak panelling, wasrelieved from absolute gloom by the lightness and elegance of itsfurniture and appointments, the profusion of flowers, and the soft greycarpet, so thickly piled that every sound was deadened. The delicatestrains of music came from an invisible orchestra concealed behind acanopy of palms. The head-waiters had the correct clerical air, halfcomplacent, half dignified. Among the other diners were many beautifulwomen in marvellous toilettes. A variety of uniforms, worn by theofficers at different tables, gave colour and distinction to a toutensemble with which even Norgate could find no fault.
"Germany has changed very much since I was here as a boy," he confessed."One has heard of the growing wealth of Berlin, but I must say that Iscarcely expected—"
He hesitated. His companion laughed softly at his embarrassment.
"Do not forget," she interrupted, "that I am Austrian—Austrian, that isto say, with much English in my blood. What you say about Germans doesnot greatly concern me."
"Of course," Norgate resumed, as he watched the champagne poured into hisglass, "one is too much inclined to form one's conclusions about a nationfrom the types one meets travelling, and you know what the Germans havedone for Monte Carlo and the Riviera—even, to a lesser extent, for Parisand Rome. Wherever they have been, for the last few years, they seem tohave left the trail of the nouveaux riches. It is not only theirclothes but their manners and bearing which affront."
The woman leaned her head for a moment against the tips of her slim andbeautifully cared for fingers. She looked steadfastly across the table ather vis-à-vis.
"Now that you are here," she said softly, "you must forget those things.You are a diplomatist, and it is for you, is it not, outwardly, at anyrate, to see only the good of the country in which your work lies."
Norgate flushed very slightly. His companion's words had savoured almostof a reproof.
"You are quite right," he admitted. "I have been here for a month,though, and you are the first person to whom I have spoken like this. Andyou yourself," he pointed out, "encouraged me, did you not, when youinsisted upon your Austro-English nationality?"
"You must not take me too seriously," she begged, smiling. "I spokefoolishly, perhaps, but only for your good. You see, Mr. Francis Norgate,I am just a little interested in you and your career."
"And I, dear Baroness," he replied, smiling across at her, "am more thana little interested in—you."
She unfurled her fan.
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