And she turned and walked back so swiftly that he had some trouble in overtaking her.
"Miss Jacobi," in an urgent voice, "I must speak to you.

I am an accredited ambassador from Miss Templeton and her sister--they have asked me to speak to you." "They must choose another ambassador then," and Leah walked on faster.
Malcolm was at his wits' end.

How could he compel this haughty and obstinate young woman to listen to him?
Then an idea came to him.
"If Miss Jacobi is so unapproachable," he said quietly, "perhaps the Countess Ferrari will not refuse to listen to me ?" Leah stopped suddenly as though she had been shot, and her face grew white.
"What do you mean?
How dare you call me that--do you want to kill me!" But the expression in her eyes was not pleasant to see.

For a moment she seemed almost distraught.
"Hush--hush!" he said soothingly; "I would not have called you that if I could have helped it; but you would not hear me.

Let us go down that little path; there is a seat there, and we will talk this out quietly;" and taking her arm, he gently guided her to the bench.