"Now I see it all!" she continued, as if suddenly enlightened. "Of course, such presents are quite in order as mementoes when young ladies of the chorus are entertained by you. But you weren't sure of me? You wanted to know if I would take it! For, of course, that would simplify things, wouldn't it?"
"Do you regret giving it away?" he said, convinced, watching her with his connoisseur gaze.
She stopped.
"That is insulting!" she said, so simply that he never again recurred to the subject. "Now, Mr. Sassoon, I am going to play fair with you. I always do—at first. I am not like other girls. I do play fair. I give one warning—one only—and then, take the consequences!"
"And what is your warning, pretty child?" he said, with a faint echo of excitement in his voice.
"You will lose your time!" she said, dropping him a curtsy. "You wish to know what I am? I won't give you the slightest hint! I may be a desperate adventuress, or I may be a pretty child; but I tell you frankly, now—once only—you had better take your hat and go! You won't?"
He shook his head stubbornly.
"Very well! You will regret it! Only, be very careful what you say to me, and how you say it. Do you understand?"
"And you will lunch with me to-morrow?"
"Yes!"