"You and I have made fools of ourselves, haven't we? But it was natural. I am very beautiful, and you are a very great genius, so——"
Maddened at her tone of indifferent justice, he turned, his face drawn with pain.
"So it was natural? A childish fancy on your part, a senile one on mine? A thing to—laugh at already! Oh, how can you torture me like this? You—you——"
"Devil? Or demon?" Her voice was mocking, but her lips had paled, and she gasped a little as if breathless.
"Let's not be melodramatic, please. Call it what you like. I was at least perfectly sincere."
"You were sincere——"
"Yes. Listen." Advancing swiftly to where he stood, she had the amazing courage to give a little laugh. Then she laid her hand on his shoulder. "Seriously, let's be good friends and forget all—the rest. I have been a fool, but you have not; for after all, I am fairly attractive, and you are not the first! So let's make a bargain: I will never again attract you; you will never again play at me. And then things will be quite comfy. Shall we? I have been an awful pig to Théo, who is a darling, and from now on I shall try to make up to him."
He shrank back from her.
"What are you?" he whispered painfully. "What are you made of? And do you want to make me hate my own son?"
"Eh, bien, are things all right?"