"Go on. You get on splendidly together."

And she returned to her conversation with Luke.

The Count looked through his music.

"How devoted she is to her nephews!" said Agatha, tapping the ivory
keyboard with a dainty finger.

"Yes."

"And apparently to both alike."

There was a little flicker beneath the Count's lowered eyelids.

"Apparently so," he answered, with assumed hesitation.

Agatha continued playfully, tapping the ivory notes with her middle
finger--the others being gracefully curled.

"You speak as if you doubted the impartiality."

"I am happy to say I always doubt a woman's impartiality."

She laughed and drew the stool nearer to the piano. It would have
been easier to drift away into the conversational channel of vague
generality which he opened up. He waited with some curiosity.

"Do you think there is a preference?" she said, falling into his
small trap.