"Do you mean you've declined the arrangement ?" He only, with a smile somewhat strained, continued for a moment to look at her; clearly, however, at last feeling, and not much caring, that he got in still deeper.

"You're magnificent.

You're magnificent." Her lovely gaze widened out.

"Comment donc?
Where--why?
You HAVE declined her ?" she went on.

After which, as he replied only with a slow head-shake that seemed to say it was not for the moment all so simple as that, she had one of the inspirations to which she was constitutionally subject.