admire and love beyond all others. I want to see him for his own sake,
and for the sake of a plan we have, which may make a lot of difference
for our future."

"How exciting! Did I ever know him?"

"I think not."

"Well? Don't you mean to tell me who he is?"

I hesitated, sorry I had let myself go: because Anthony had written
that he didn't want his movements discussed at present.

"I'll tell you another time," I said. "I want to talk about you.
Anybody else is irrelevant."

"Clever Duffer! Your friend is a _secret_."

"Not he! But if there's a secret anywhere, it's only a dull, dusty sort
of secret. You wouldn't be interested."

"Women never are, in secrets. Well, I'm glad somebody else besides
myself has a mystery to hide."

"You're very quick."

"I'm Irish! But I'm merciful. No more questions--till you're off your
guard. You're free to ask me all you like, if there's anything you care
to know which horrid newspapers haven't told you these last few years."