"You see I do not like them! I suppose--I hope"-- he looked again straight into Sylvia Bailey's ingenuous blue eyes--"that the Wachners have never tried to borrow money of you ?" "Never!" she cried, blushing violently.

"Never, Count Paul! Your dislike of my poor friends makes you unjust--it really does." "It does! It does! I beg their pardon and yours.

I was foolish, nay, far worse, indiscreet, to ask you this question.

I regret I did so.

Accept my apology." She looked at him to see if he was sincere.