“But it is night!”

“Precisely.  Could you go to the office of a United States senator and possible cabinet minister in broad daylight and that fact not be known?  Could he come to your apartments in broad daylight and that fact not be known?  What would ‘that man Pakenham’ suspect in either case?  Believe me, my master is wise.  I do not know his reason, but he knows it, and he has planned best to gain his purpose, whatever it may be.  Reason must teach you, Madam, that night, this night, this hour, is the only time in which this visit could be made.  Naturally, it would be impossible for him to come here.  If you go to him, he will—­ah, he will reverence you, as I do, Madam.  Great necessity sets aside conventions, sets aside everything.  Come, then!”

But still she only sat and smiled at me.  I felt that purple and amber glow, the emanation of her personality, of her senses, creeping around me again as she leaned forward finally, her parted red-bowed lips again disclosing her delicate white teeth.  I saw the little heave of her bosom, whether in laughter or emotion I could not tell.  I was young.  Resenting the spell which I felt coming upon me, all I could do was to reiterate my demand for haste.  She was not in the least impressed by this.

“Come!” she said.  “I am pleased with these Americans.  Yes, I am not displeased with this little adventure.”

I rose impatiently, and walked apart in the room.  “You can not evade me, Madam, so easily as you did the Mexican gentleman who followed you.  You have him in the net also?  Is not the net full enough?”

“Never!” she said, her head swaying slowly from side to side, her face inscrutable.  “Am I not a woman?  Ah, am I not?”

“Madam,” said I, whirling upon her, “let me, at least, alone.  I am too small game for you.  I am but a messenger.  Time passes.  Let us arrive at our business.”

“What would you do if I refused to go with you?” she asked, still smiling at me.  She was waiting for the spell of these surroundings, the spirit of this place, to do their work with me, perhaps; was willing to take her time with charm of eye and arm and hair and curved fingers, which did not openly invite and did not covertly repel.  But I saw that her attitude toward me held no more than that of bird of prey and some little creature well within its power.  It made me angry to be so rated.

“You ask me what I should do?” I retorted savagely.  “I shall tell you first what I will do if you continue your refusal.  I will take you with me, and so keep my agreement with my chief.  Keep away from the bell rope!  Remain silent!  Do not move!  You should go if I had to carry you there in a sack—­because that is my errand!”

“Oh, listen at him threaten!” she laughed still.  “And he despises my poor little castle here in the side street, where half the time I am so lonely!  What would Monsieur do if Monsieur were in my place—­and if I were in Monsieur’s place?  But, bah! you would not have me following you in the first hour we met, boy!”