"Why?"
"I want to give you a surprise."
"I know it already!"
"What?"
"There's no party at all; we're dining together," she said, looking at him directly. "Don't lie. Besides, I knew it all the time!"
"What?" he said amazed.
"Naturally! Do you think I would be here if I didn't want to be? Well, to-night, then, is the big temptation? I hope you'll be very interesting!"
"So you knew!" he said, pursing his lips.
"You're disappointed because I'm not afraid!" she told him, laughing. "Well, I'm not! Besides, I have taken my precautions!"
"What do you mean?" he asked uneasily.