The Beggar Man was sitting opposite to Faith now. He kept looking at her in a queer, nervous sort of way. Suddenly he said in his abrupt manner:
"Do you mind if—if I kiss you?"
She raised her brown eyes.
"If you kiss—me!" She echoed the words with fluttering incredulity. "Oh, no, of course not—if you really want to."
"Thank you." He leaned across and kissed her cheek awkwardly.
There was a little silence, then he said, angrily: "Of course, some people would call me an absolute blackguard!"
She looked at him in amazement.
"Why, what do you mean?"
He explained disjointedly.