“But you may get it yet,” she laughed in turn.... “Walter told me your other name!” She shot the information at him suddenly.
“Oh,” he remarked casually; “he did, did he?”
“Rather a sporty name to be gallivantin’ under, eh?”
“I never liked it.”
“Why?”
“It made me too conspicuous.... And people asked such impertinent questions.”
“They would!”
“Yes; Richard Richard is much better.... Don’t tell Jerry about the other name yet, will you?”
She agreed. Somehow she felt sorry for the man. According to her theory he had played for high stakes and lost. About that she cared little. But his coolness and good nature pleased her; and he had courage, for he had never so much as flinched when she flung the big whip. No doubt he would have taken her blow without even lifting his guard. He had merely looked up at her with his mild blue eye, scrutinizing her with an almost disinterested curiosity. Seth had always dropped on all fours at the very sight of the whip; this man was built on a more courageous mould, and she admired him immensely for it.
“You’re a good sport,” she summed him up, “even if you are a bad lot.”