They were impatiently declined.
"Monsieur is pleased," said Carl easily, "to reveal many marked
peculiarities of manner, owing to the unbalancing fact, I take it, that
his mind is relentlessly pursuing one channel. Monsieur," went on
Carl, lazily lighting his own cigarette and staring into his
companion's face with a look of level-eyed interest, "Monsieur has been
praying ardently for--opportunities, is it not so? 'I will humor this
mad fool who motors about in the rain like an operatic comet!' says
Monsieur inwardly, 'for I am, of course, a stranger to him. Then,
without arousing undue interest, I may presently escape into the storm
whence I came--er--driving atrociously.'"
The man stared.
"Monsieur," purred Carl audaciously, "is doubtless more interested
in--let us say--camp fires for instance, than such a vulgar blaze as
yonder car."
"One is powerless," returned the other haughtily, "to answer riddles."
Carl bowed with curiously graceful insolence.
"As if one could even hope to break such splendid nerve as that!" he
murmured appreciatively. "It is an impassiveness that comes only with
training. Monsieur," he added imperturbably, "I have had the
pleasure--of seeing you before."
"It is possible!" shrugged the other politely.
Pages:
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73