"See you, in real life, as one of your own heroes—doing some of the things they do so cleverly, so winningly—careless of convention, reckless of consequences, oblivious to all considerations except only the affair in hand. That," she said excitedly, "would be glorious, and well worth a trip to the States!"
"How far," he asked, "have you read in that book of mine?"
"In this book?" She opened it, impulsively, ran over the pages, hesitated, stopped.
"He was—was kissing the Balkan Princess," she said. "I left them—in statu quo."
"I see.... Did he do that well?"
"I—suppose so."
"Have you no opinion?"
"I think he did it—very—thoroughly, Mr. Smith."
"It ought to be done thoroughly if done at all," he said reflectively.[97]
"Otherwise," she nodded, "it would be offensive."