"Not at all, my dear; teasing is the word I wanted."
She lay back in the chair and laughed softly to herself.
"Do you fancy the Grand Duke Armand would call it teasing?" she asked.
He joined in the laugh.
"The victim never sees the joke," he said.
She sat up sharply.
"So, then, it was intended only as a joke?" she exclaimed. "I thought
it had another object."
He frowned again.
"I don't quite follow you," he said.
She looked at him with a queer smile.
"My being brought to Valeria to pose as his wife," she explained.
"You don't mean you came here from America expressly for that purpose?"
he asked.
Her smile grew broader.
"Really, Duke, you are most delicious," she said. "Armand Dalberg told
me, the other day, that I played my part beautifully--he should see
you. You are a _premier artiste_."
"Madame flatters me," Lotzen answered with soft irony; then tried for
her hand--and failed.
"Well, you may take it so," said she; "but, believe me, your cousin
didn't mean it so, to me."
He moved over and sat on the edge of the table near her.
She leaned far back and put her hands behind her.
"Come, my dear, don't be so mysterious," he said.
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