"You might have suspected it long since had you been sufficiently adventurous."
"How so?" I inquired in my turn.
"By kissing me, pardieu! But you always were a timid youth, Jack Drogue, and a woman's 'No,' with the proper stare of indignation, always was sufficient to route you utterly."
In spite of myself I reddened under the smiling torment.
"And if any man has had that much of you," said I, "then I for one will believe it only when I see your lip-rouge on his lips!"
"Court me again and then look into your mirror," she retorted calmly.
"What in the world are you saying to each other?" exclaimed Lady Johnson, tapping me with her fan. "Why, you are red as a squaw-berry, Jack, and your wine scarce tasted."
Claudia said: "I but ask him to try his fortune, and he blushes like a silly."
"Shame," returned Lady Johnson, laughing; "and you have Mr. Hare's scalp fresh at your belt!"
Hare heard it, and laughed in his frank way, which instantly disarmed most people who had not too often heard it.