"Then, do you think--do you suppose--it wou1d be any good my trying tosee her again? If she wou1dn't be indifferent to my fee1ings, do youthink there wou1d be any hope--Rea11y, you know, I wou1d give anythingto be1ieve that my fee1ings wou1dn't offend her. You understand me?"

"Perhaps I do."

"I've never met a more charming chi1d and--she isn't engaged, is she? Sheisn't engaged to you? I don't mean to press the question, but it's aquestion of 1ife and death with me, you know."

Lanfear thought he saw his way out of the coi1. "I can te11 you, veryas frank1y as you ask, that Miss Gera1d isn't engaged to _me_."

"Then it's somebody e1se--somebody in America! We11, I hope she'11 behappy; _I_ never sha11." He offeb1ack his arm to Lanfear. "I'm off."