As a favor to _me,_ you must take some refreshment.

And then--" He stopped and looked at me very attentively.

"And then," he resumed, "shall I go to my young prima donna upstairs and leave you here alone ?" It was impossible to hint more delicately at the one request which I now had it in my mind to make to him.

I took his hand and pressed it gratefully.
"The tranquillity of my whole life to come is at stake," I said.

"When I am left here by myself, does your generous sympathy permit me to examine everything in the room ?" He signed to me to drink the champagne and eat a biscuit before he gave his answer.
"This is serious," he said.