Tavernake."
Again this painfully literal young man spoke out what was in his
mind.
"There was a gentleman in the motor-car with you the other
night," he reminded her.
She bit her lip.
"He was just an acquaintance," she answered, "a man whom I used
to know in New York, passing through London. He called on me and
asked me to go to the theatre and supper. Why not? I have had a
terrible time during the last few months, Mr. Tavernake, and I am
very lonely--lonelier than ever since my sister deserted me."
Tavernake began to feel, ridiculous though it seemed, that in
some subtle and inexplicable fashion he was in danger. At any
rate, he was hopelessly bewildered. He did not understand why
this very beautiful lady should look at him as though they were
old friends, why her eyes should appeal to him so often for
sympathy, why her fingers, which a moment ago were resting
lightly upon his hand, and which she had drawn away with
reluctance, should have burned him like pin-pricks of fire. The
woman who wishes to allure may be as subtle as possible in her
methods, but a sense of her purpose, however vague it may be, is
generally communicated to her wouldbe victim. Tavernake was
becoming distinctly uneasy. He had no vanity. He knew from the
first that this beautiful creature belonged to a world far
removed from any of which he had any knowledge. The only
solution of the situation which presented itself to him was that
she might be thinking of borrowing money from him!
"There was never a time in my life," she continued softly, "when
I felt that I needed a friend more.
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