He was not good at bluffing.

She saw what was in his face; it seemed to him that she was reading what was in his mind, and that she grew a little taller as she stood there.

Certainly her breath came quicker, and he could see the throb of her breast.

Nepeese did not wait for him to gather speech.
"I am not going!" she repeated with even greater finality, and bent again over Baree.
With a shrug of his shoulders Pierrot watched her.

After all, was he not glad?
Would his heart not have turned sick if she had been happy at the thought of leaving him?
He moved to her side and with great gentleness laid a hand on her glossy head.