is awaiting you; and are we to talk about money? I shall begin to
swear like a trooper; the thing is too preposterous."

Eve said nothing: she stood half turned from him.

"Of course," he pursued, "you may object to leave London. Perhaps
the sacrifice is too great. In that case, I should only do right if
I carried you off by main force; but I'm afraid it can't be; I must
leave you to perish."

"I am quite willing to go away," said Eve in a low voice. "But the
shame of it--to be supported by you."

"Why, you don't hate me?"

"You know I do not."

"You even have a certain liking for me. I amuse you; you think me an
odd sort of fellow, perhaps with more good than bad in me. At all
events, you can trust me?"

"I can trust you perfectly."

"And it ain't as if I wished you to go alone. Patty will be off her
head with delight when the thing is proposed to her."

"But how can I explain to her?"

"Don't attempt to. Leave her curiosity a good hard nut to crack.
Simply say you are off to Paris, and that if she'll go with you, you