"It seems absurd to think that anything could happen to Maggie here in
London," he said, "after--"
He paused abruptly. Naida smiled at him.
"After her escape from Germany, I suppose you were going to say? You
see, I know all about it. There was no Prince Shan in Berlin."
He shrugged his shoulders slightly.
"Well," he admitted, "I don't quite bring myself to believe in your
terrible ogre, so I shall not worry. Tell me what news you have from
Russia?"
"Political?"
"Any news."
She smiled.
"I notice," she said, "that English people are changing their attitude
towards my country. A few years ago she seemed negligible to them. Now
they are beginning to have--shall I call them fears? Even my kind host,
I think, would like to know what is in Paul Matinsky's heart as he hears
the friends of Oscar Immelan plead their cause."
"I admit it," he told her frankly. "I will go farther. I would give a
great deal to know what is in your own mind to-day concerning us and our
destiny. But these things are not for the moment. It was not to discuss
or even to think of them that I asked you here to-day."
"Why did you invite me, then?" she asked, smiling.
"Because I wanted the pleasure of having you opposite me," he
replied,--"because I wanted to know you better."
"And are you progressing?"
"Indifferently well," he acknowledged. "I seem to gain a little and
slide back again. You are not an easy person to know well."
"Nothing that is worth having is easy," she answered, "and I can assure
you, when my friendship is once gained, it is a rare and steadfast
thing.
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