"
"Until dinner?"
"Certainly--and forever after, Mr. Harleston, be an ordinary man with
me, please."
"Do you fancy that a _seeing_ man can be just an ordinary man when _you_
are with him?" he asked.
"I'm not required to fancy you what you're not," she returned.
"In other words, I'm not a seeing man?"
"Not especially, sir.--And there's another problem, for your diplomacy.
_A bientot_, Monsieur Harleston."
He telephoned to the Club for a taxi to be at the door at a quarter to
seven; then dressed leisurely and descended.
"Any developments?" he inquired of Miss Williams.
"None," she replied. "Ripples hasn't come down yet."
"All right," said he. "Tell me in the morning--you're on duty then?"
She answered by a nod, the flash was calling her, and he passed on
toward the door--just as the elevator shot down and Madeline Spencer
stepped out.
"How do you do, Mr. Harleston?" said she, with a broad smile.
"Hello, Mrs. Spencer! I'm glad to see you," he returned. "If you're
bound for the Chateau or downtown, won't you let me take you in my car?
It's at the door."
"If you think you dare to risk your reputation, I'll be glad to accept,"
she replied.
"Is it a risk?" he asked.
"That is for you to judge," as he put her in.
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