“Why not now?”
“No, at twelve o’clock. Not earlier.”
“And you propose sitting here with me till then?”
“I could imagine no better pastime, were I condemned to die at sunrise. Tell me, do you wish me to call Mr. Davidson?”
“Of course I do not, since I gave you my word. Besides, I know that girl with him. It’s Sally Byington. Some call her good-looking, but I am sure I don’t know why.”
“Fie upon you! She is superb. In short, Helena, I am not sure but she is finer-looking than yourself!”
“Indeed!”
“Yes. Cal Davidson, whatever may be his taste in neckties or waistcoats, seems to me excellent in this other regard. Perhaps just a trifle flamboyant for Luigi’s, but certainly stunning.”
“Our relations are not such as to lead me to discuss our friends,” she rejoined haughtily. “And, as you say, our duck is getting cold. I adore these canvasbacks. I would like to come back to-morrow and have another.” She cut savagely into her fowl.
“Alas, Helena, to-morrow you will be far away. In time I hope to reconcile you to the simple life of piracy. Indeed, unless all plans go wrong, we may very likely have canvasbacks on the boat; although I can not promise you that John will be as good a chef as our friend here at Luigi’s. All good buccaneers use their fair captives well.”