"I wish I'd shot his hand off," said Billy bitterly.
"Oh! Was it you who——?"
"When we were in the palace." He told her again about the raid and she nodded delightedly over it.
"It's so wonderful for you to have done all this," she said with sudden shyness. "You had just met me——"
The things on Billy's tongue wouldn't do at all. None of them. What he did say was absurdly stiff and constrained. "You were my countrywoman—and alone."
"So are the Evershams," said Arlee, with sudden bubbling laughter, and then as suddenly checked herself. Her fleet glance at him was half-scared. "You—you are very good to your countrywomen in distress," she got out stammeringly.
Billy contemplated his cigar. It was safer.
Presently she reverted to the topic of discovery. "But about Mr. Falconer? Are you sure his suspicions are over now?"
"Perfectly sure. Or they will be the moment he sees you. You'll have to laugh at him if he mentions them, of course;" Billy spoke with heartiness.
"He'd hate it," the girl said musingly. "The talk and all—about me—Oh, after being such a fool I'd never be the same to them!" she broke out passionately.