with a skill that was altogether baffling. Now, as usual, having said what
he wanted to say, he retreated behind a fence of raillery.

"You know quite well I didn't mean that," she said indignantly.

"What did you mean, then? That I'm not to make love to you?"

"It isn't fair of you," she urged. "Not now--here."

"No, I suppose it isn't," he acknowledged equably. "But I'm going to do it,
all the same. Probably I'll never get you to myself again--alone on the
top of the world. But I'll promise you one thing"--his voice deepened to a
sudden gravity. "This is going to be the last time I make love to you. If
you say 'no' to me now, I shall accept it, and it will be 'no' for always."

Ann's heart beat a little more quickly.

"Tony--" she began protestingly.

"No. Hear me out. I know what's the matter. You don't trust me. You're
afraid, if you marry me, that I'll let you down--as my father let my mother
down. But I won't! I swear it." He stood still and, slipping his arm from
under hers, took both her hands in his and held them tightly. "If you'll
marry me, Ann, I promise you that I'll give up gambling--every form of
it--from this day forth."

"You couldn't!" she broke in hastily.

"I could do anything--for you," he answered simply. "Because I love you."