And he has the reply hours ago."--("Also," he might have
added, "our State Department--only it may not be able to translate it.")
"I should say, Mrs. Clephane, that your duty is done now, unless the
Marquis calls on you for assistance. You have performed your part--"
"Very poorly," she interjected.
"On the contrary, you have performed it exceptionally well. You, a
novice at this business, prevented the letter from falling into
Spencer's hands, and so you blocked that part of their game. No, no,
Mrs. Clephane, I regard you as more than acquitted of blame."
"You're always nice, Mr. Harleston!" she responded.
"Nice expresses very inadequately what I wish to be to you," he said
slowly.
Again the flush came--and her glance wavered, and fled away.
"Meanwhile," he went on, "I am quite content to know that you think me
nice to you."
She sprang up and moved out of distance, saying as she did so, with a
ravishing smile:
"Nice is comprehended in other pleasant--adjectives."
"It is?" said he, advancing slowly toward her.
"But you, Mr. Harleston, are forbidden to guess how pleasant, or the
particular adjective, until you're permitted."
"And you'll permit me to guess some day--and soon."
"Maybe so--and maybe not!" she laughed.
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