"Perfectly."
"But you are so young to be a prophet and a seer!"
"Good heavens, Thusis, is there nothing serious in you!" I exclaimed wrathfully.
"Not just at the moment," she retorted, controlling her laughter. "And I'd better go to bed or I'll be suggesting that we start that music-box down stairs and try a two-step."
I took a step toward her: "It amuses you to be funny," said I, "but before we take leave of each other suppose you hand me that pistol."
"Indeed I shall not!"
"If you don't hand it over," said I, "I shall be obliged to catch you and take it away from you." And I started toward her.
At that she flew up the stairs, turned on the landing and leaned down toward me with an adorable gesture.
"Go to the devil!" she whispered softly. And vanished in the dusk above.
XII