azed down at her.

"No jewels, you see, Adam," she said suddenly. "I'm afraid you've
struck a loser this time. You'll have to stick to the Great North
Road in future."

"No jewels?" said I. "You have a wealth of hair, and what about the
pearls behind your lips? They're worth a king's ransom."

"They're not made to take out, though, and there's no gold with them."

She put up the red mouth and showed two rows of teeth, white and even.

"Tempt me no more," said I. "Oh, Eve, you're just as bad as ever.
After all this time, too. However. I hesitate to mention supper,
because you look so lovely sitting there, but--"

She stretched out a warm hand, and I lifted her to her feet. For a
second I held the slight fingers.

"Tell me one thing," said I. "Is there anyone who doesn't love you?"

The fingers slipped away. "Yes, stacks of people. You wouldn't like
me a bit, only I'm not myself to-night. I'm just--just Eve. See? New
Year's Eve."

"Thomas thinks you're Jill--Miss Mansel."

"To him I am. To the temporary maid in the morning, too. As for
breakfast--oh, you and my high collar must get me through breakfast and
out of here and over to Steeple Abbas somehow. Funny, your telling
Falcon to go to 'The Three Bulls.' It's where we were making for. I'd
taken a room there."

"By Jove," said I. "Then, when I went back with Jill, they thought it
was you arriving."

And I related what had occurred. When I had finished, she threw back
her head and laughed.

"Then you're not a robber, after all, Adam?"

"Certainly not. But why?"

"I mean, assuming the exchange is a fair one."

"Fair?" said I. "It's exquisite. Why, just to look at you's as good
as a feast, and--"

"Which reminds me I'm awfully hungry. Oh, no, no, I didn't mean that,
Adam, dear, I didn't really."

And my companion leaned against the chimney-piece, laughing helplessly.

"That's torn it," said I, laughing too.

"And now," said Eve, recovering, "take off your coat. You must be so
tired."

I drew my pumps out of the great pockets, and threw the coat off me and
across the back of a chair. Then I kicked off my great high rubber
boots, stepped into my pumps, and looked ruefully at my dress trousers.

"They're only a little creased," said the girl.

"You must forgive them," said I.

"Jill wouldn't have minded, would she?"

"Jill wouldn't have mattered."

"Nor does Eve. Remember my hair."

"I shall never forget it," sa