Go on."

"I intend to have Ching Tong stage a very realistic fight down in his
cellar, in which Anthony can overpower eight or ten Chink giants,
escape out of the window with the fainting Peggy in his arms,
and--and----"

"Simple enough," admitted Romola, with a mild frown. She drew him to a
broad, low bench. "Somehow," she went on, "your idea rather appeals to
me, too. I liked Anthony's looks--what I saw of him. And I rather
liked the two little girls--twins, aren't they?"

Peter nodded. "The heavenly twins!"

"I think I'd quite agree with that plan, Peter, if you didn't happen to
be in such disrepute in this neighborhood. You must realize that the
Gray Dragon's men are watching you. Of course, you didn't recognize
your rickshaw coolie. He is one of the Gray Dragon's men--naturally.
Don't you think you are exposing those two nice girls unnecessarily to
danger?"

Peter lighted two cigarettes, and passed one of them to Romola. She
accepted it with an air of abstraction and puffed slowly, blowing out a
thin stream of pale smoke.

"But circumstances are changed now. You see, I am on the
fence--perfectly safe."

"They are still anxious for you to come with them?"

"That's it. They sent a representative last trip all the way to San
Francisco."

"Of course you refused? Peter----" Her soft, white hand was resting
on his; her red lips were very close to his face. "Why don't you join
them? You and I!"

"You and I?"

She nodded earnestly.

Peter drew back a few inches. "I said 'no' when you asked me that
before. No, I'll have nothing to do with that band--never! Going out
into the wilderness, up into the mountains on some of their risky
errands--with you--might have appealed to me. Not now!"

"Peter, I am afraid I still love you!"

"And yet, Romola, I'm not afraid of falling in love with you--again!
But let's not speak of joining that man in Len Yang. What you're
offering is--too tempting. I might give in! You are altogether too
fascinating!"

"Am I?"

"I've told you that before."

"Then you will go up-river with me?"

"No--never! Why, you almost make me suspect that you're still in that
beast's employ."

"I never was. I told you that."

"You've said many things that didn't stand the acid, Romola."

He stood up, looking down at her with whimsical tenderness. She was
very beautiful, and when she took on that forlorn air she had the
appearance of a helpless, small girl. He wo