"I don't know."
Eugene was not a patient man. He allowed himself a shrug of the shoulders.
"Are you about to congratulate me on having 'bagged' another?"
"You're entirely hopeless to-day, and entirely charming!" he said. "If any girl but you had treated me like this, I'd never come near her again."
Claudia looked daggers.
"Pray don't make me an exception to your usual rule."
"As it is, I shall go away now and come back presently. You may then at least listen to me. That's all I've asked you to do so far."
"I am bound to do that. I will some day. But do go now."
"I will directly; but I want to speak to you about something else."
"Anything else in the world! And on any other subject I will be—charming—to you. Sit down. What is it?"