"I shall not interfere."

"Forgive me, please," he said. "It's mighty good of you. Please don't
think me ungracious. You understand, however,--don't you?"

"No, I do not," she replied, shaking her head slowly. Suddenly her eyes
widened. "Is it because I dance in my bare feet, in my bare legs, that
you think so vilely of me?"

He stared. "Good Lord! I don't think vilely of you, Madame Obosky. I
wasn't even aware that you danced in your bare feet and legs."

"You have never seen Obosky dance?" she cried in astonishment.

"Never."

She frowned. "Then, my friend, I was wrong in what I say just now. Most
men who have seen me dance think I am a bad woman, and so they either
covet me or despise me. If you have not had ze pleasure of seeing me,
Mr. Percivail, you do not either covet me or despise me. That is fine.
It is good to know that you do not despise me." Observing the expression
in his eyes, she went on calmly. "Oh, yes, I shall be very much please
to have you covet me. Zat--that is all right. But if you despise
me,--no, no, zat would be terrible."

For a moment he was dashed. He did not know how to take her remark. She
was a new, a strange type to him. After a sharp, quick look into
her eyes, however, he came to the conclusion that she was absolutely
sincere. So far as she was concerned, it was as if she had said nothing
more outrageous than: "I shall be please to consider you one of my
admirers."

"My dear Madame," he said, smiling, "permit me to express the hope that
both of us may go on to the end of our days without having our peace of
mind disturbed."

She looked puzzled for a moment, and then favoured him with her broad,
good-natured smile.

WEST WIND DRIFT 85

"Spoken like a Frenchman," she cried, and added, "and with equal
sincerity, I fear. Go your way, Monsieur Percivail. I shall keep my
gauze. Some day when we are very old people and very old friends I may
then be permitted to bandage your hands. At present, however, the risk
is too great, eh? I am so inexperience. I might by accident tie your
hands in my clumsiness, and zat--that would make so much trouble for
Miss Clinton to untie zem,--yes?"

Now there was mockery in her eyes. His face hardened.

"I must be on my way," he said curtly. "We have been looking things over
down below. The Captain is waiting for our report."

He bowed and started off. She swung along at his side.

"What have you discover, Mr. Percivail?" she inquired anxiousl