“How can I squawk? I started the double-cross, so how can I kick if it backfired? So now we’re even.”

Simon sat on the arm of a chair.

“This is almost fascinating,” he said. “So you sent me that invitation so we could kiss again and be friends?”

A faint flush touched her cheekbones.

“When you saw me with Lady Offchurch, I knew I’d have to deal with you sooner or later. Why kid myself? So I thought I’d get it over with.”

“You thought I was after the same boodle.”

“If you weren’t before, you would be now.”

“Well, what’s the proposition?”

“Why don’t we really team up this time?”

Simon put a cigarette in his mouth and struck a match.