but they
kept returning, with an insistent idea that a patriotic vampire might
accomplish something for her country as Delilah and Judith had
"vamped" for theirs. She had never seen a vampire exercise her
fascinations in a fur coat in a dark automobile, but perhaps the dark
was all the better for her purpose.

At any rate, she took the dare her wits presented her, and after a
struggle with her own mutinous muscles she put out her hand and sought
Nicky's, as she cooed:

"Come along, Nicky, don't be so cantankerous."

His hand registered the surprise he felt in the fervor of its clutch:

"But you are so colt!"

She insinuated, "You couldn't expect me to make love to you the very
first thing, could you?"

"You mean you do like me?"

Her hands wringing his told the lie her tongue refused. And he,
encouraged and determined to prove his rating with her, flung his arm
about her again and drew her, resisting only in her soul, close to
him.

CHAPTER II

But when his lips hunted hers she hid them in her fur collar; and he,
imputing it to coquetry, humored her, finding her delicate timidity
enhancing and inspiring. He chuckled:

"You shall kiss me yet."

"Not till you have told me what you sent for me for."

"No, feerst you must give me one to proof your good fate--your good
face--" He was trying to say "good faith."

She was stubborn, but he was more obstinate still, and he had the
advantage of the secret.

And so at last she sighed "All right," and put up her cheek to pay the
price. His arms tightened about her, and his lips were not content
with her cheek. He fought to win her lips, but she began to tear off
her gloves to scratch his eyes out if need be for release.

She was revolted, and she would have marred his beauty if he had not
let her go. Once freed, she regained her self-control, for the sake of
her mission, and said, with a mock seriousness:

"Now, be careful, or I won't listen to you at all."

Sighing with disappointment, but more determined than ever to make her
his, he said:

"Feerst I must esk you, how is your feelink about Chermany?"

"Just as before."

"Chust as vich 'before'? Do you loaf Chermany or hate?"

She was permitted to say only one thing. It came hard:

"I love her, of course."

"_Ach, behuet' dich, Gott!_" he cried, and would have clasped her
again, but she insisted on discipline. He began his explanation.

"I did told you how, to safe my life in England, I con