Part 30 (1/2)
She shrugged her shoulders slightly Soht into her cheeks had already returned
”It is an annoyance, ht becoerous”
She looked thoughtfully into the fire
”I am afraid,” she said, ”that he must have a skeleton key to these rooms If so I shall have to leave”
”You cannot play at hide-and-seek with this creature all your life,”
he answered ”Let your friends act for you Thererid of him”
”I am afraid,” she murmured, ”that it would be difficult He really deserves a better fate, does he not? He is so beautifully persistent”
He drew a little nearer to her The laht he bent forward as though trying to look into her averted face He touched her hand, soft and cool to his fingers--she turned at once to look at hihter than usual, the firelight played about her hair, there seeht firm mouth Nevertheless she withdrew her hand
”Let ed ”Indeed, you could have no more faithful friend, you could find no one more anxious to serve you”
Her hand fell back into her lap He touched it again, and this time it was not withdrawn
”That is very nice of you,” she said ”But it is so difficult----”
”Not at all,” he answered eagerly ”I wish you would co of what really did happen in Paris--if even you ever saw him there You need not tell me, but a lawyer is different His client's story is safe with hiet rid of the fellow”
”I will think of it,” she proed ”It is intolerable that you should be followed about by such a creature I aot rid of”
She turned and looked at him Her face scarcely reflected his enthusiasm
”It may be more difficult than you think,” she said ”You see you do not kno much of truth there is in his story”
”If it were all true,” he said doggedly, ”it may still be possible”
”I will think of it,” she repeated ”I cannot say more”
They talked for a while in so lanced at a little clock in the corner of the roo to her feet
”Heavens, look at the time!” she exclaimed ”It is incredible I shall barely be in tio and dress at once”
He too rose
”I ait for you on the pave to the 'Unusual' with you Your maid would not be of the least protection”
”But your dinner!” she protested ”You will be so late”