CHAPTER 27She qualified her surrender, of course, by sitting on the very edge of the chair. She had on a wine-colored dress, and, with the excitement whipping color into her cheeks and her eyes dancing, Nelly Lebrun was a lovely picture.
“I must go at once,” said Nelly.
“Of course, I can’t expect you to stay.”
She dropped one hand on the edge of the table. One would have thought that she was in the very act of rising.
“Do you know that you frighten me?”
“I?” said Donnegan, with appropriate inflection.
“As if I were a man and you were angry.”
“But you see?” And he made a gesture with both of his palms turned up. “People have slandered me. I am harmless.”
“The minute is up, Mr. Donnegan. What is it you wish?”
“Another minute.”
“Now you laugh at me.”
“No, no!”
“And in the next min
