For hors
d'oeuvres what do you say to oeufs de pluvier? Then--"
"Pardon me," she interrupted, "I am not interested in your dinner!"
"In our dinner," he ventured gently.
"I am not dining with you," she declared firmly. "If you insist
upon remaining here I shall have something served in my room. You
know quite well that we are certain to be recognised. One would
imagine that this was a deliberate attempt on your part to
compromise me."
"Lucille," he said, "do not be foolish! Why do you persist in
treating me as though I were your persecutor?"
"Because you are," she said coolly.
"It is ridiculous," he declared. "You are in the most serious
danger, and I have come only to save you. I can do it, and I will.
But listen--not unless you change your demeanour towards me."
She laughed scornfully. She had risen to her feet now, and he was
perforce compelled to follow her example.
"Is that a challenge?" she asked.
"You may take it as such if you will," he answered, with a note of
sullenness in his tone. "You know very well that I have but to
lift my finger and the gendarmes will be here. Yes, we will call
it a challenge. All my life I have wanted you. Now I think that
my time has come. Even Souspennier has deserted you. You are
alone, and let me tell you that danger is closer at your heels than
you know of.
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