And yet----" "Millions of them read my books," he chuckled.
"Yes--all of them read your books," she replied, looking straight into his face.

"And I guess--in many ways--you have pointed out things that are true." It was his turn to show surprise.
"You believe that ?" "I do.

More than that--I have always thought that I knew your secret--the big, hidden thing under your work, the thing which you do not reveal because you know the world would laugh at you.

And so--_you despise me!_" "Not you." "I am a woman." He laughed.

The tan in his cheeks burned a deeper red.
"We are wasting time," he warned her.