"Possibly it was."
"And you respect a man who would let it be included?"
Daphne smiled, brilliantly, quietly. "Perhaps Mr. Clifford knew I would not be asked to render any such service."
"How could any man know that?"
"I told you. Mr. Clifford is one—"
"I know—I know. One of the Great Ones. What's that? A lodge of some kind?"
She pondered for a moment. "In a sense."
Suddenly Lee's decency took command. "I'm sorry—more sorry than I can say. Forgive me?"
She returned his smile. "There is nothing to forgive. Would you like some coffee?"
"That's an idea, but mainly I want to talk."