Desperately she strove to cover her confusion, or at least to divert his attention from it.

"I am quite sure Major Hunt-Goring doesn't! He--he wouldn't be so silly!" "We are neither of us that," remarked Max with a twist of the lips that was hardly a smile.

"I suppose you don't feel inclined to tell me exactly what the fellow's hold over you is." "You said you didn't want to know!" she flashed back.
Max's green eyes were regarding her very intently.

She resented their scrutiny hotly, but she could not bring herself to challenge it.
"Quite so, fair lady, I did," he responded imperturbably.

"But as this affair has developed into something of the nature of a duel between the gallant major and myself it might be as well, for your sake as much as mine, that I should know what sort of ground I am standing on." "A duel!" echoed Olga.
He smiled a little.