“I’ll look into the hood.”
“I prefer that you would not.”
For an instant surprise marked his countenance.
“You mean that you desire to remain here?” he asked.
“I don’t wish to remain here, but I choose that in preference to your aid.”
The man, who had bent forward to lift one cover of the engine, straightened up at that. He considered her 24 intently and in silence for a time, marking her heightened color, the haughty poise of her head, the firm set of her lips.
“To my knowledge, I never saw you before in my life,” he remarked at last. “What, may I ask, is your particular reason for declining my services?”
She was dumb for a little, while she tucked back a stray tendril of hair. The act was performed with the left hand; and Weir’s eyes, which seldom missed anything, observed a diamond flash on the third finger.
“Well, I’d choose not to explain,” said she, afterwards, “but if you insist–––”
“I don’t insist, I merely request ... your highness.”