I saw that her hand was trembling.

"Silvia, dear, surely you don't think--"

"Must you go?"

"It was a poor joke of mine, I know; but--"

"It was. I don't think a count or a baron would have said such a
rotten thing."

Her eyes flashed and she was trembling all over. From being pretty,
she had become beautiful.

"Perhaps not," said I steadily. "But if they had, they would have
meant it, Silvia."

"As you did."

I coiled the flexible cord about a finger, loosed it and thrust it into
my pocket.

"I'll go now," I said, "as I came."

"Like a thief."

"Like a thief. You have been wonderfully kind, and I--I have spoiled
everything. Let's try and forget this evening. For you, a car passed
in the night, the hum of its engine swelling up, only to fade again
into the silence. For me, I lingered to listen to the words of a song,
and when it was done, sped on into the shadows. I wish you hadn't cut
that bell, lass."

"Why?"

I walked out on to the balcony and swung myself over the coping.

"Because then I should have asked if I might kiss you."

When I had lowered myself on to the seat of the car, I unbuckled the
strap and started to pull it down. But the buckle caught on the
baluster, and I had to stand on my old perch to reach and loosen it. I
did so, balancing myself with one hand on the balcony's door. As the
strap slipped free, there was a burning pain in my fingers. With a cry
I tore them away, lost my balance, and fell sideways into the car on to
the back of the front seat. I stood up unsteadily. It hurt me to
breathe rather, and there was a stabbing pain in my right side.

"Are you hurt?" said a quick voice above me. Dazedly I raised my head.
Silvia was leaning over the balcony, one hand to her white throat. I
could hear her quick-coming breath.

"No," I said slowly, "I'm not. But until you tell me that you know I
did not mean what I said, I will not believe that you did not mean to
stand upon my fingers."

"Are you hurt, lad?"

"No. Did you hear what I said?"

Silvia stood up, her hands before her on the coping.

"You know I didn't."

Without a word I stepped carefully out of the car. The pain was
intense. It was as if my side was being seared with a hot iron. How I
started the car I shall never know. The effort brought me to my knees.
Somehow I crept into my seat, took out the clutch and put in the first
speed. I was moving. Mechanically I changed into second, third,