Yes, I would humour her. If it became necessary, I would pay her the highest sum she might ask for, that I was in a position to pay. But first to meet my darling again. How I longed to see her once more, after all those mysterious happenings!

“How much do you want?” I asked abruptly.

She named an absurdly large sum. Eventually we came to terms, and I paid her in French notes.

Très bien!” she said, as she stuffed the money into some queer corner in her brief skirt. “You are a gentilhomme, not like ze others. Mais oui.”

Then she rose, signalled to me with her eyes, and I followed her out of the room.


Chapter Nineteen.

More Revelations.

Eagerly I strode out after her.