Meanwhile--the key-word, my friend."
Carpenter drummed on the table, and frowned at the door that had closed
behind Harleston.
"The man's bewitched," he muttered. "However I threw a slight scare into
him, and maybe it will make him pause; he is not quite devoid of sense.
Bah! All women are vampires."
XIII
THE MARQUIS
"Mrs. Clephane will be right down, Mr. Harleston," said the telephone
operator.
A moment later the elevator flashed into sight, and Mrs. Clephane
stepped out and came forward with the languorously lithe step, perfectly
in keeping with her slender figure. She wore a dark blue street suit,
and under her small hat her glorious hair flamed like an incandescent
aureole. She greeted Harleston with an intimate little nod and smile.
"You're good to come!" she said.
"To myself, I think I'm more than good," he answered.
"No, no, sir!" she smiled. "No more compliments between us, if we're to
be friends."
"We're to be _friends_," he returned.
"_Ergo_," she replied. "Sit down just a minute, will you?"
"I'll sit down for a month, if you're--"
"_Ergo! Ergo!_" she reminded him.
"I had not gotten used to the unusual restriction" he exclaimed. "You're
the first woman ever I met or heard of who dislikes compliments.
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