"And is there no one—no friend, from whom you could naturally inquire? You feel you wouldn't care to ask anyone?"
"Ask? Good heavens, no—certainly not!"
"Men are queer," said Desire naively. "A woman would just simply have to ask."
"She would."
"You think me inquisitive?" Her quick brain had not missed the dry implication of his tone. "But you see I had to know something. It's all right, I'm sure. But it would have been so much—more comfortable if she were quite married."
(Oh course it would—why in thunder hadn't he thought of that? The professor was much annoyed with himself.)
"She is probably quite, utterly married long ago," he said gloomily. "What possible difference can it make?"
"None. Don't look so bitter! Perhaps I should not have asked questions. I won't ask any more—except one. Would you mind very much telling me her name?"
Her name!
The harassed man looked wildly around. But there was no escape. Not even Sami was in sight. Only a jeering crow flapped black wings and laughed discordantly.