The Great American Pumess shot forth a little paw—such a soft, shapely, hesitant, dainty, appealing little paw—and laid it on Hal's hand.
"Please," she said.
"But, Esmé,"—he began. It was the first time he had used that intimacy with her. Her eyes dropped.
"We're partners, aren't we?" she said.
"Of course."
"Then you won't let them print it!"
"If Miss Pierce goes rampaging around the streets—"
"Please. For me,—partner."
"One would have to be more than human, to say no to you," he returned, laughing a little unsteadily. "You're corrupting my upright professional sense of duty."
"It can't be a duty to hold a friend up to ridicule, just for a little accident."