He answered unsuspiciously that of her grace he had learned the reefs fairly.
'Ah yes, and conned through but once,' she said smoothly, and eyed him.
'Conned twice—once either way.'
'I sent you no summons,' she expostulated quietly.
'Do you think that I have lied to you?'
She did not answer.
With indignant emphasis he repeated, 'Do you think I have lied?'
'Do you think I have?'
Not a quiver crossed her front with the mendacious alternative; not even for laughter, when the face of Christian lent ample occasion; for, as a fish with a barb in the gullet not to be spewed out, was he impotent and spun.
While still he gasped, Diadyomene slid forward into the deep and bade haste for daylight. Fine swimmer he was, but his strokes compared ill with an effortless ease like a wing-wide bird's. Refraction gave her limbs a lovely distortion, and pearly soft they were through the beryl wash. Behind her merged head the level just rocked and quivered; cleft by his chin it rebelled in broad ripples. She turned her head, curious of his clumsy method; she could not forbear a smile; she reverted hastily beyond the blind of her floating hair.