"To myself, I think I'm more than good," he answered.
"No, no, sir!" she smiled. "No more compliments between us, if we're to be friends."
"_Ergo_," she replied. "Sit down just a minute, will you?"
"I had not gotten used to the unusual restriction" he exclaimed. "You're the first woman ever I met or heard of who dislikes compliments."
"I don't dislike compliments, Mr. Harleston; but compliments, it seems, are given in diplomacy for a purpose; and as I don't understand anything of diplomacy we would better cut them out--until we have finished with diplomacy. Then you may offer as many as you like, and I'll believe them or not as I'm minded."
"Have it as you wish!" he smiled, looking into the brown eyes with frank admiration.
"Compliments may be conveyed by looks as well as by words," she reproved.
"But of the feeling that prompts the look you can be in no doubt. Moreover, a look is silent."
"Nonsense," said she. "Besides, I want to ask you a favour. You see, I'm prepared to go out--and I want you to go with me. Will you do it?"
"It will have to be mightily against my conscience to make me refuse _you_," Harleston replied.
"I'm glad you recognize a conscience," she remarked.
"And a diplomatic conscience is a minus quantity," she observed.
"What is it you would of me, dear lady?" he asked.
"I would that you should go with me to the French Ambassador, and help me to explain the--now don't say you won't, Mr. Harleston--"
"My dear Mrs. Clephane, it is--" he began.
"It is _not_ impossible!" she declared. "Why won't you do it?"
"For your sake as well as for my own," he explained. "America and France are not working together in this matter, and for me to accompany you would result simply in your being obliged to explain _me_ as well as the letter, besides leading to endless complications and countless suspicions. Didn't I expound this last evening?"
"You did--also much more; but I've thought over it almost the whole night, and I simply must get this miserable letter off my mind. Perhaps Mrs. Spencer has forestalled me with the Ambassador and has given him such a tale as will insure my being shown the door; nevertheless I'll risk it."
"Why don't you get in communication with your friend Madame Durrand," Harleston suggested "and have her, if she hasn't done so already, identify you to the Marquis?"