"That so?" he said.
There was insolence in his tone this time. She turned and faced him. Then she saw a large cross of strapping-plaster across his temple. She looked at it a moment ere defiantly she met his eyes.
"I suppose you are going to make that your excuse," she said.
"I was," said Jake imperturbably.
She bit her lip. His utter lack of shame made her pitiless. "If I hadn't met you on the stairs last night, I might believe you," she said.
"You're real kind," he rejoined. "As a matter of fact I didn't cut my head open tumbling upstairs, but I reckon that detail won't interest you. You'll think what you want to think, whatever I say. And p'raps, as you say, there's not much point in discussing the obvious. Shall we have some breakfast?"
His eyes shone with a mocking gleam into hers. She was sure he was laughing inwardly, though his mouth was grim.
"I shall breakfast upstairs," she said coldly.
He made a slight movement that passed unexplained. "Oh, I think not," he said suavely. "It won't hurt you any to sit at table with me. I am a very ordinary sinner, I assure you."
Something in his tone made her flinch. The colour went out of her face. She turned without a word to the table.