A great artist, in the person of a thoroughly nice woman.' Margaret had thought that blushing was a thing of the past with her, but a soft colour rose in her cheeks now, from sheer pleasure at what he had said.
'I hope you don't think it impertinent of me to tell you so,' said Logotheti with a slight intonation of anxiety.
'Impertinent!' cried Margaret.

'It's the nicest thing any one has said to me for months, and thank goodness I'm not above being pleased.' Nor was Logotheti above using any art that could please her.

His instinct about women, finding no scruples in the way, had led him into present favour by the shortest road.

It is one thing to say brutally that all women like flattery; it is quite another to foresee just what form of flattery they will like.

People who do not know professional artistic life from the inner side are much too ready to cry out that first-class professionals will swallow any amount of undiscriminating praise.