"I am convinced that you have something important to say to me." "Supposing," she answered, still looking at him steadily, "supposing I were to say that I had no object in coming here at all--that it was merely a whim?
What should you say then ?" "I should take the liberty," he answered quietly, "of doubting the evidence of my senses." There was a moment's silence.

She felt his aloofness.

It awoke in her some of the enthusiasm with which this mission itself had failed to inspire her.

This man was measuring his strength against hers.
"It was not altogether a whim," she said, her eyes falling from his, "and yet--now I am here--it does not seem easy to say what was in my mind." He glanced towards the clock.
"I fear," he said, "that it may sound ungallant, but in case this somewhat mysterious mission of yours is of any importance I had better perhaps tell you that in twenty minutes I must leave to catch the Scotch mail." She rose at once to her feet, and swept her cloak haughtily around her.
"I have made a mistake," she said.

"Be so good as to pardon my intrusion.