“Thank God,” I said loudly, but, despite myself, I felt a cold in the small of my back and a dryness in my throat.
“Will you follow my advice?” he said, studying me anxiously.
“Wait.” I put my head in my hands and drew great breaths, while I fought for calm and decision.
“Now.”
“You are sure of your control?”
“Absolutely.”
“No scenes?”
“I give you my word.”
“That must be understood,” he said firmly. “No public scandal—no dramatics, my friend, or as sure as you are sitting here you will have to answer to me. Is that understood?”
“I assure you I never was more master of myself,” I said, smiling, and, indeed, a cold indifference had come to me. I felt a tempest raging in my brain and somewhere in that tempest a voice crying, “Now or never!”