You
shouldn't have followed me; when they learn that we both spent the night
here they will think you are my--my accomplice. The best advice I can
give you, Mr. Bayne, is to go away."
"Perhaps we had better," I agreed stolidly. I had deserved the outburst.
"Shall we be off at once, before the servants come downstairs?"
She drew back, her eyes widening.
"We?" she repeated.
"Naturally!" I replied, with some temper. "I _must_ have disgusted
you last night. What sort of a miserable, spineless, cowardly, caddish
travesty of a man do you take me for, to think I would let you go
alone?"
"Please don't joke," she urged. "It simply isn't possible. You would get
into trouble with the French Government, and--"
"Do you know," I grinned, "it is rather exhilarating to snap one's
fingers at governments? Just see what success I made of it with Great
Britain and Italy, on the ship!"
"You don't realize what you are laughing at," she pleaded. "It is
dangerous."
"I won't disgrace you. I seldom tremble visibly, Miss Falconer, though I
often shake inside.
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