Acton felt a more downright need than he had ever felt before to tell her that he admired her and that she struck him as a very superior woman.

All along, hitherto, he had been on his guard with her; he had been cautious, observant, suspicious.

But now a certain light tumult in his blood seemed to tell him that a finer degree of confidence in this charming woman would be its own reward.

"We don't detest you," he went on.

"I don't know what you mean.