"But there is some dreadful mystery in his past life--" I could get no further; Major Fitz-David deliberately stopped me.

He did it with the smoothest politeness, on the surface.

But I saw a look in his bright little eyes which said, plainly, "If you _will_ venture on delicate ground, madam, don't ask me to accompany you." "My charming friend!" he exclaimed.

"May I call you my charming friend?
You have--among a thousand other delightful qualities which I can see already--a vivid imagination.

Don't let it get the upper hand.