I have not made my plans. I
must reconnoitre. Hold yourself ready to do what I ask."
Still he drew away. "I shall be a burden. Tell me the truth, shall I
be a burden?"
"Yes."
He did not look angered. Indeed, his eyes softened till I thought him
near tears. "And you will do this for me! Run all this risk! And yet
you never saw me before to-day!" He touched his hand to mine.
Somehow this again annoyed me. The man was concealing something from
me, yet affected to be moved to open emotion by his gratitude. I was
not at the bottom of him yet. I removed his hand.
"Monsieur, you forget," I corrected. "You said we were foes, and we
are. I never embraced an Englishman, and I shall not begin now--now
that our nations are at war. You may be a spy."
"You think me a spy!"
I sighed from exasperation, and pointed to the window. "Monsieur
Starling, wake up to this situation. What does it matter what you are,
or what I think? We waste time. Say that you will follow me, and I
shall go and make my plans."
But still he looked at me. "Then you encumber yourself with me from
abstract duty. Personally you distrust me."
The truth seemed best. I bowed.
He thought this over.
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