"Please," she whispered. "Are Terrans always that abrupt?"
"We have a reputation for candor," I said. "If I hadn't told you why you left me speechless you'd have been angry for the wrong reason. You may take that as a compliment."
"I'm not sure I want to."
"You must know how lovely you are," I protested. "Why should you resent being told the simple truth?"
"Perhaps this is one of my bad-tempered days," she said, her eyes searching my face. "You don't look like the kind of man who would deliberately try to embarrass anyone. No man is wise enough to be gallant by design, and make the pretense seem casual and completely honest. You're right, of course. I had no reason to be angry."
She came toward me, straightening her hair, her eyes crinkling with undisguised amusement.
"I still don't know who you are."
"The name's Hargon," I said. "Taro Hargon. I came here to trade with the natives. I get on fairly well with them."
Her eyebrows went up. "Natives? I haven't seen any."
"You will," I promised her.