"My poor Tony," she said, "you look as worried as Saul. What is it?"
The devil, or whoever is responsible for our temptations, suddenly brought up in Tony's mind the recollection of Reggie's parting words. He looked down longingly into Musette's upturned face. Here in this strange gracious girl lay a wonderful escape from the black morass into which he had stumbled. She met his gaze with steady, wide-opened eyes and a rather troubled smile.
"What is it, Tony dear?" she repeated. "Tell me."
He slowly moved his hand until it imprisoned her arm, and then bent down towards her.
"Musette," he whispered, "Musette."
Her breast rose and fell like some beautiful white flower, but she remained silent and motionless. Tony was so near now that he could feel the warm breath from her parted lips, and for a moment he forgot everything in the supreme hunger to kiss her. It was as he did so that his conscience suddenly broke through the habits of a lifetime.
He stood up quietly in front of her and put his hands behind his back.
"I was going to ask you to marry me, Musette," he said.
Musette nodded.
"But now," said Tony, after a short pause, "I am going to tell you the truth instead." He sat down and stared into the fire. "I'm ruined, Musette. I owe about ten thousand pounds, and I haven't a penny in the world. I've spent and gambled away every shilling my father left me. I had the last five thousand I can possibly raise on Little Eva."