“Seriously, Jeremy, why shouldn’t I have it off? Listen. First, it would
suit me. I went to see Sali to-day, and he said it’d look immense. It
isn’t as if it were straight. It’s naturally curly, and I’d have it
really well cut. Then, I go through such hell—hell, morning and night.
I wish you could see it down. Then perhaps you’d realize what I mean.”
“I have,” said Jeremy Broke. “The night of the Lyvedens’ ball.”
“Well, how would you like to have to cope with it twice a day?”
Jeremy inclined his head.
“I cannot imagine a greater privilege.”
Eve smiled very charmingly.
“Let’s drop hypothesis,” she said, “and come back to facts. I’ve given
you three good reasons for having it cut. Except that it’s a national
treasure, of which, I assume, I am the luckless trustee, can you give me
one single reason why it should be preserved?”
Jeremy hesitated.