"You are too clever to waste yourself upon such pettiness," he
whispered. "In Russia I would find you a sphere worthy of your talents,
and make you a duchess."
"I fail to understand, monsieur."
He leaned forward until his eyes looked straight into mine, and spoke
with deliberate emphasis.
"I am going to stoop and take from under your chair a cigarette, and you
must perforce permit me."
"Why?"
"Because if you attempted to resist I should prevent it. See, I slowly
stoop to regain my own."
He bent as he spoke, and then, as the inspiration flashed upon me, my
hands went swiftly to my throat, and with a sudden clutch I snapped my
necklace, and a shower of pearls scattered upon the balcony.
"My pearls!" I cried in dismay, and brushing past him to save them as
they fell, I picked up the cigarette from beneath my skirt and looked
mockingly into his face.
"You are a clever little devil!" he said, with chagrined appreciation.