'Now you understand why I smooth my hair and dress like a tailor's

manikin,' he said quietly. 'It's enough to cow a mob, isn't it?' 'Do you know, I'm not sure that I don't like you better so. You're more

natural!' 'You're evidently not timid,' he answered, amused. 'But you can fancy

the effect on Mrs. Rushmore's nerves, if she had seen me.' 'I should not have dared to come with you. As it is----' She hesitated.

'Oh, as it is, you cannot help yourself,' Logotheti said. 'You can't

get out and walk.' 'I could get out when you have to stop at the petrol station; and I

assure you that I can refuse to come with you again!' 'Of course you can. But you won't.' 'Why not?' 'Because you're much too sensible. Have I offended you, or frightened

you? What have I done to displease you?' 'Nothing--but----' She laughed and shook her head as she broke off.

'I haven't even asked you to marry me to-day! I should think that I was

taking an unfair advantage, if I did, since I could easily carry you

off just now. The car will run sixty miles at a stretch without any

trouble at all, and I don't suppose you would risk your neck to jump,

merely for the sake of getting away from me, would you?' 'Not if you behaved properly,' Margaret answered.

'And then,' Logotheti continued, 'I could put her at full speed and

say, "If you won't swear to marry me, I'll give myself the satisfaction

of being killed with you at the very next bridge we come to!" Most

women would rather marry a man than be smashed to atoms with him, even

if he looks like a pirate.' 'Possibly!' 'But that would be unfair. Besides, an oath taken under compulsion is

not binding. I should have to find some other way.' 'Shall we go on?' Margaret asked. 'I shall be late for the rehearsal.' 'Give it up,' suggested Logotheti calmly. 'We'll spend the morning at

St. Cloud. Much pleasanter than tiring yourself out in that wretched

theatre! I want to talk to you.' 'You can talk to me when I am not singing.' 'No. Singing will distract your attention, and you won't listen to what

I tell you. You have no idea what delightful things I can say when I

try!' 'I wonder!' Margaret laughed lightly. 'You might begin trying while you

take me to Paris. We haven't run a mile in the last ten minutes, and

it's getting late.' 'Unless you are always a little late nobody will respect you. I'll go a

little faster, just to prove to you that you can do anything you like

with me, even against my judgment. Let me put on my glasses first.' At that moment a man met them on a bicycle, and passed at a leisurely

pace. There was not much traffic on the Versailles road at that hour,

and Margaret let her eyes rest idly on the man, who merely glanced at

her and looked ahead again. Logotheti had taken off his cap in order to

adjust his goggles and shield. When the bicycle had gone by he laughed.




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