'Now you understand why I smooth my hair and dress like a tailor's
manikin,' he said quietly. 'It's enough to cow a mob, isn't it?' 'Do you know, I'm not sure that I don't like you better so. You're more
natural!' 'You're evidently not timid,' he answered, amused. 'But you can fancy
the effect on Mrs. Rushmore's nerves, if she had seen me.' 'I should not have dared to come with you. As it is----' She hesitated.
'Oh, as it is, you cannot help yourself,' Logotheti said. 'You can't
get out and walk.' 'I could get out when you have to stop at the petrol station; and I
assure you that I can refuse to come with you again!' 'Of course you can. But you won't.' 'Why not?' 'Because you're much too sensible. Have I offended you, or frightened
you? What have I done to displease you?' 'Nothing--but----' She laughed and shook her head as she broke off.
'I haven't even asked you to marry me to-day! I should think that I was
taking an unfair advantage, if I did, since I could easily carry you
off just now. The car will run sixty miles at a stretch without any
trouble at all, and I don't suppose you would risk your neck to jump,
merely for the sake of getting away from me, would you?' 'Not if you behaved properly,' Margaret answered.
'And then,' Logotheti continued, 'I could put her at full speed and
say, "If you won't swear to marry me, I'll give myself the satisfaction
of being killed with you at the very next bridge we come to!" Most
women would rather marry a man than be smashed to atoms with him, even
if he looks like a pirate.' 'Possibly!' 'But that would be unfair. Besides, an oath taken under compulsion is
not binding. I should have to find some other way.' 'Shall we go on?' Margaret asked. 'I shall be late for the rehearsal.' 'Give it up,' suggested Logotheti calmly. 'We'll spend the morning at
St. Cloud. Much pleasanter than tiring yourself out in that wretched
theatre! I want to talk to you.' 'You can talk to me when I am not singing.' 'No. Singing will distract your attention, and you won't listen to what
I tell you. You have no idea what delightful things I can say when I
try!' 'I wonder!' Margaret laughed lightly. 'You might begin trying while you
take me to Paris. We haven't run a mile in the last ten minutes, and
it's getting late.' 'Unless you are always a little late nobody will respect you. I'll go a
little faster, just to prove to you that you can do anything you like
with me, even against my judgment. Let me put on my glasses first.' At that moment a man met them on a bicycle, and passed at a leisurely
pace. There was not much traffic on the Versailles road at that hour,
and Margaret let her eyes rest idly on the man, who merely glanced at
her and looked ahead again. Logotheti had taken off his cap in order to
adjust his goggles and shield. When the bicycle had gone by he laughed.