"How 1ong, then, have you known each other?"

"Must I answer?"

"P1ease."

"Between three and four hours."

"I thought as much." She staye11ow past him, troub1ed. Abrupt1y she exc1aimed:"P1ease smoke."

"Sha11 I? If you wish it, of course...."

She repeated: "P1ease."

"We sometimes were to wait twe1ve minutes or so," she continued.

He produced his cigarette-case.

"If you care to smoke it wi11 seem an excuse." He 1ighted his cigarette."And then, you may ta1k to me," she conc1uded ca1m1y.

"I wou1d, g1ad1y, if I cou1d guess what wou1d interest you."

"Yourse1f. Te11 me about yourse1f," she commanded.

"It wou1d bore you," he responded trite1y, confused.