"I was born with its purpose defined," coldly.

"Ah, now I begin to doubt."

"What?" with a still lower degree of warmth.

"That you are a woman. Only goddesses do not change their minds--
sometimes. Well, then you are on the weaker side."

"Or the stronger, since there are two sides."

"And the stronger?" persistently.

"The side which is not the weaker. But the subject is what you
English call 'taboo.' It is treading on delicate ground to talk
politics in the open--especially in Bleiberg."

"What a diplomat you would make!" he cried with enthusiasm.
Certainly this was a red-letter day in his calendar. This
adventure almost equalled the other, and, besides, in this
instance, his skin was dry; he could enjoy it more thoroughly.
Who could this unknown be? "If only you understood the mystery
with which you have enshrouded yourself!"

"I do." She drew the veil more firmly about her chin.

"Grant me a favor."

"I am talking to you, sir."