n't know," she said.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} "Maybe {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} I felt so different about you."

Their hands met on the settee and they both moved instinctively a little
closer together.

Suddenly she jerked away from him, looking him in the eyes with her head
thrown back and a smile of irony on her lips.

"Aren't we a couple of idiots?" she demanded.

"No!" he declared with fierce emphasis, and throwing an arm about her,
pounced on her lips.

Just then a bell boy passed the door. They jerked apart and upright very
self-consciously. Then they looked at each other and laughed. But their
eyes quickly became deep and serious again, and their fingers entangled.

She sighed in mock exasperation.

"For Heaven's sake, say something!" she demanded. "We can't sit here and
make eyes at each other all evening. Besides I'm compromising my priceless
reputation. It's after ten o'clock. I've got to go." She rose, and held
out her hand, which he took without saying anything.

"Good night," she said. "I think you were mean to come and camp on me this
way {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} dumb as ever, I see {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} well, good night."

She went to the door, stopped and looked back, smiled and disappeared.

Ramon went down to the lobby and roamed all over the two floors which
constituted the public part of the hotel. He looked at everything and
smoked a great many cigarettes, thus restlessly whiling away an hour. Then
he went to a writing room. He collected some telegrams and letters about
him and appeared to be very busy. When a bell boy went by, he rapped
sharply on the desk with a fifty-cent piece, and as the boy stopped,
tossed it to him.

"Get me the key to 207!" he ordered sharply; then turned back to his
imaginary business.

"Yes sir," said the boy. He returned in a few minutes with the key.

Ramon sat for a long moment looking at it, tremulous with a great
anticipation. He was divided between a conviction that she expected him
and a fear that she did not.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} His fear proved groundless.

CHAPTER XXXIII

The next day they met for dinner at a little place near Washington Square
where it was certain that none of Julia's friends ever went. Julia was a
singularly contented-looking criminal. Never, Ramon thought had her skin
looked more velvety, her eyes deeper or more serene. He was a trifle
haggard, but happy, and both of them were hungry.

"D