That was his way of finding out if she'd
suit. Jove, how beastly it does sound, put into words, and confessed to
_you_! But you said I must go on."
"Yes--go on," Annesley breathed.
"You were about one hundred times better than my highest hopes. And
seeing what you were, I was glad I'd thought out that plan. Even then, it
was borne in on me that it wouldn't be long before I found myself falling
in love, if I had the luck to secure you. And from that minute the
business turned into an exciting play for me, just as I meant to make it
for you. I let you wait for a while, but if you'd showed any signs of
vanishing I'd have stepped up. I'd got a trick ready for that emergency.
"But I hoped you'd follow instructions and go to the restaurant. Once
there, I was sure the head-waiter'd persuade you to sit down at a table;
and the rest went exactly as I planned. The two men we called the
'watchers' used to be vaudeville actors--did a turn together, and their
specialty was lightning changes. Their make-ups, even at short notice,
could fool Sherlock Holmes. Even though you despise me for it, Anita, you
must admit it was a smart way to make you take an interest, and prove
your character.
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