Bobby wished that the question had not been raised. Perhaps it would be near enough the truth to reply in the negative. On second thought, absolute sincerity with Nancy Ashford was but her rightful due. He decided to be honest.

"Yes," he answered, reluctantly, "I spent a whole hour with her last night, on a country road " - adding, after a considerable pause, "But she doesn't know it."

"Meaning what?" demanded Nancy, in amazement.

Briefly he narrated the whole circumstance of their meeting. Nancy Ashford's blue eyes widened. Underneath the boyish recital ran a strong current of unmistakable personal interest which Bobby's attempted tone of casualness failed to conceal.

"I think you liked her, Bobby. Didn't you?"

He essayed a smile of indifference. He might even have been able to delude himself into the belief that Nancy accepted the smile as a sufficient answer to her query, had he not been so audacious with his little deceit as to look her full in the face. What he saw there of incredulity and disappointment instantly sobered him. There was no use trying to keep anything from this woman.

"My dear," he confessed, with an unsteady voice, "I like her so much I'd rather we didn't talk about it."

His big car had idled to a full stop alongside the curb flanking a little park. They were both silent for a while. At length, Nancy said mechanically, "Well, of all things!"

"Yes," agreed Bobby abstractedly, "something like that."

There was another protracted pause.

"And she didn't know who you were?"

"I couldn't tell her."

"How long do you think you can maintain your - incognito?"

"Oh, that should be simple enough, " Bobby declared, in a tone of self-deprecation. "I took pains to invent an alibi for the evening, when I talked to Masterson, in case some inquiries might be made. But Mrs. Hudson has probably forgotten all about the little episode by this time."

Nancy laughed.

"Bobby Merrick, do you really believe that a young woman of Helen Hudson's temperament could produce the impression she made on you without being fully aware of it? You confessed how acutely conscious you were of her - that was your phrase, wasn't it? - as you sat together in her car. Do you think you would have had that sensation had she not shared it?"

"Of course; why not? See here - you're taking altogether too much for granted in this case. Mrs. Hudson was no more that courteous, friendly, appreciative of a little favor. She had no reason to think me interested in her. In fact, I was almost rude to her when we parted." He did not feel it necessary to add that her car had crept along, in low gear, for fully two hundred yards, apparently reluctant to leave.

"Yes," said Nancy significantly, " she would notice that!"

"And she would know - by my abruptness - wouldn't she? …"

"Know what?" persisted Nancy ruthlessly.

"Why - that I was not interested."

"Dear boy, how very little you know about her!"

"Meaning that she had unusual gifts for interpreting other people's private thoughts?"

"No - Foolish! Meaning only that she's a woman!"