If that queen were free, I could finish everything." "Oh, oh--I've told you it's a stupid game with stupid rules--and it makes its players--" She did not complete that, but went about on another tack--with the danger note in her voice.

"Just now I overheard your caller say a thing--" "Ah, I feared you overheard." The arrogance of the gesture with which she interrupted me was splendid.
"He said, 'How long are you going to keep up that--that--'" "That will do," I said severely.

"Remember there is a gentleman present." But my voice sounded queerly indeed to the ears most familiar with its quality.

Also it trembled, for her gaze, almost stern in its questioning, had not released me.
"But how long _are_ you ?" Her own voice had trembled, as mine did.

She might as well have used the avoided word.