s
true? Have you seen ... eh?'
"'No,' I admitted. 'I haven't.' He laughed and nursed his knee, rocking
to and fro.
"'She's clever!' he said, smiling. 'Mind, you're not to be blamed at
all. As far as I can gather, you have nothing to regret. But if you get
to Saloniki again, give her my love, and tell her I'm too poor, too
busy, and too wise to be led into a mess like that again. I can't be
angry with her because I'm so grateful to her for not taking me at my
word, and hanging like a mill-stone on my neck for ever. Phew! The
thought of it makes me cold all over! And yet....' And he held out his
hand for the cigarettes. 'Isn't she beautiful? Eh? Isn't she wonderful?
Man, I tell you I used to feel like crying sometimes, she was so lovely!
Saloniki, eh? Well, she'll go far. She has the temperament and the
talent. I wish her luck.'
"'I am convinced,' I said, 'that you are taking a mistaken view of her.
For instance, I certainly gathered that she was in love with you and
believes you to be....' He stood up suddenly.
"'In love with me? She may have been. I daresay she can convince herself
she's in love with all of us. I told you she's imaginative. In love
with me? Golly, I don't blame her. I nearly went out of my mind about
her. There isn't a folly I didn't commit for--how long was it?--say six
weeks. I shall never forget it. But a man in my position can't afford
many of these episodes. They're too strenuous. I've got to work. If
you'll excuse me, your cab is waiting and Miss Bailey will be back in a
few minutes. She costs me three shillings an hour. You see,' he added,
smiling, 'she's not in love with me! Love! My friend, the love those
sort of women inspire never got a man anywhere. You can't escape it if
it comes your way, it's true. You can only trust to the good Lord to let
you off lightly. But flight is the bravest course. You have to be very
rich and very strong in character if you are going in for that sort of
thing. And this girl especially, because she does it by instinct. She
works on you and gradually builds up in your mind an ideal woman who
does duty for her. Oh, I know! She's a wonder. For instance,' and Mr.
Kelly turned to me and held his index finger against my breast, 'why
does she send you to me? Is she in want of money? Is she in danger? No.
If she was, she knows I couldn't do anything for her if I would. She's
doing it to impress you, to play up to the imaginary woman you've in
your mind. As for t
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