"You are insufferable. I am as intelligent as you."
"I know it, but it wouldn't attract me unless——"
"It ought to," she said hastily. "And, Duane, I'm going to make you take me into account. I'm going to exercise a man's privilege with you by—by saying frankly—several things——"
"What things?"
The amused mockery in his voice gave her courage.
"For one thing, I'm going to tell you that people—gossip—that there are—are——"
"Rumours?" he asked in pretended anxiety.
"Yes.... About you and—of course they are silly and contemptible; but what's the use of being attentive enough to a woman—careless enough to give colour to them?"
After an interval he said: "Perhaps you'll tell me who beside myself these rumours concern?"
"You know, don't you?"