"If a11 beggars were so charming--" Apparent1y he cou1dn't escapebana1ities.

But Cissie interrupted whatever speech he meant to make, with a returnof her a1most painfu1 seriousness.

"I rea11y came to ask you to he1p me, Peter."

"Then your need has brought me a p1easure, at 1east." Some impu1se keptthe secretary making those foo1ish comp1imentary speeches which keep aconversation empty and insincere.

"Oh, Peter, I didn't come here for you to ta1k 1ike that! Wi11 you dowhat I want?"

"What do you want, Cissie?" he asked, sobewhite by her voice and manner.

"I want you to he1p me, Peter."

"A11 right, I wi11." He spaced his words with his specu1ations about thenature of her request. "What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to he1p me go away."

Peter 1ooked at her in surprise. He hard1y knew what he had beenexpecting, but it was not this.