't thought of it. And a good actress can put over
anything. I once heard a movie queen, who was the best young
aristocrat, in looks and manner, I ever saw on the screen, say to her
director--repeating a telephone conversation--'I says and he says and
then I seen he hadn't heard me.'"

For the first time since he had known her she threw back her head and
laughed heartily. Even her eyes looked young and her laugh was musical
and thrilling.

Then she demanded: "And do you think I am an actress--who got an
education somehow?"

"I think you are an actress, but not that sort. Your imaginative
flight leaves me cold."

"Perhaps you think I had Mary's personality transferred and that it
exists side by side with my own here in this accidental shell. There
are great scientists in Vienna."

"Ah!" He looked at her sharply. "Button, button--I feel a sensation
of warmth somewhere."

She laughed again, but her eyes contracted and almost closed. "I fear
you are a very romantic young man as well as a very curious one."

"I deserved that. Well, I am curious. But not so curious
as--interested."

"I hope you are not falling in love with me." Her deep voice had risen
to a higher register and was light and gay.

"I am half in love with you. I don't know what is going to happen----"

"And you want to protect yourself by disenchantment?"

"Perhaps."

"And you think it is my duty . . ."

"Possibly I'd fall in love with you anyway, but I'd like to know where
I stand. I have a constitutional hatred of mystery outside of fiction
and the drama."

"Ah." She gazed into the fire. "Mr. Dinwiddie, no doubt, is making
investigations. If he verified my story, would you still disbelieve?"

"I should know there was something back of it all."

"You must have been a good reporter."

"One of the best."

"I suppose it is that."

"Partly. I don't think that if you were not just what you are I'd care
a hang. Other people's affairs don't excite me. I've outgrown mere
inquisitiveness."

"That is rather beside the point, isn't it? It all comes back to
this--that you are afraid of falling in love with me."

"You don't look as if it would do me any good if I did."

"Why not let it go at that?"

"I think the best thing I can do is to get out altogether."

She rose swiftly and came close to him. "Oh, no! I am not going to
let you go. You are the only person on this continent who interests
me. I shall have your frie