Sir, I should
not like to think that, while I was in my room, for the time
removed from the society of the gentlemen who should be my
protectors, there was going on, let us say, somewhere in the
gentlemen's saloon, a little enterprise at chance in which--"
"But, my dear lady, you are mad to speak in this way! Lightning,
even lightning of folly, does not strike twice in the same place."
"Ah, does it not? But it has!"
"What can you mean? Surely you do not mean actually to say that
you yourself ever have figured in such an incident?"
She made no answer to him, save to look straight into his eyes,
chin in hand still, her long white arm lying out, motionless, her
posture free of nervous strain or unrest. Slowly her lips parted,
showing her fine white teeth in a half smile. Her eyes smiled
also, with wisdom in their look.
The venerable statesman opposed to her all at once felt his
resources going. He knew that his quest was over, that this young
woman was after all able to fend for herself.
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