“You received the letter?” he said.
“Which letter?” she asked hurriedly; and then closed her lips and slowly changed colour.
There was only one letter, of course. There could be no other. For it had never been suggested that Lory should write to her.
“Yes; I received it,” she answered. “Thank you.”
“Will you answer one question?” asked Lory.
“If it is a fair one,” she answered with a laugh.
“And who is to decide whether it is a fair one or not?”
“Oh! I will do that,” replied Denise with decision.
She knew the weakness of her position, and was prepared to defend it. Her eyes were shining, and the colour had not faded from her cheeks yet. Lory held his lip between his teeth as he looked at her. She waited for the question, without meeting his eyes, with a baffling little smile tilting the corners of her lips.
“Well,” she said, after a pause, “I suppose you have decided not to ask it?”