"How do you mean, Mr. Rawn?—But you must go, you really must!"
There came a knock at the door. Rawn's negative gesture was positive. After a moment's hesitation the girl stepped to the door and spoke to the maid. "You may return again in a little while, maid," she said. "I'm not quite ready now." In turn she stood with her back against the door, her own color rising.
"Oh, don't be uneasy," said John Rawn smiling. "This is quite considerable of a hotel, taking it as it is. There won't be any scandal over this."
"I don't think I understand you."
"I'm going in just five minutes. But I want to say something to you in the way of a business proposition, Miss Delaware."
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean." Her head was high, her color still rising.
"Nothing in the least wrong, my dear girl," said John Rawn. "It's simply a matter of business, as I said. You're here as my assistant, of course. But did it ever occur to you that as you stand there now, and as I stand here, we might pass in that crowd below there and not be known by any one?"
VI
She still stood looking at him, her color high, undecided as to his meaning even now as he went on.
"It would be rather a pleasant experience, perhaps, for you—as it would be for me—just to mingle with that giddy throng—say, for dinner. Would you like to be part of it? It's just a foolish thought that came to me."