"'You wore a pointed French beard in Paris,' she said--'a very downy one. And you never stayed to tea but twice, and then you only spoke once.' "'Oh!' said I, blankly. 'What did I say?' "'You asked me if I liked plums,' said Daisy, bursting into an irresistible ripple of laughter. "I saw that I must have made the same sort of an ass of myself that most boys of eighteen do. "It was too bad. I never thought about the future in those days. Who could have imagined that little Daisy Holroyd would have grown up into this bewildering young lady? It was really too bad. Presently the professor retired to his room, carrying with him an armful of drawings, and bidding us not to sit up late. When he closed his door Miss Holroyd turned to me. "'Papa will work over those drawings until midnight,' she said, with a despairing smile. "'It isn't good for him,' I said. 'What are the drawings?' "'You may know to-morrow,' she answered, leaning forward on the table and shading her face with one hand. 'Tell me about yourself and Jack in Paris.' "I looked at her suspiciously. "'What! There isn't much to tell. We studied. Jack went to the law school, and I attended--er--oh, all sorts of schools.' "'Did you? Surely you gave yourself a little recreation occasionally?' "'Occasionally,' I nodded. "'I am afraid you and Jack studied too hard.' "'That may be,' said I, looking meek. "'Especially about fossils.' "I couldn't stand that. "'Miss Holroyd,' I said, 'I do care for fossils. You may think that I am a humbug, but I have a perfect mania for fossils--now.' "'Since when?' "'About an hour ago,' I said, airily. Out of the corner of my eye I saw that she had flushed up. It pleased me. "'You will soon tire of the experiment,' she said, with a dangerous smile. "'Oh, I may,' I replied, indifferently. "She drew back. The movement was scarcely perceptible, but I noticed it, and she knew I did. "The atmosphere was vaguely hostile. One feels such mental conditions and changes instantly. I picked up a chess-board, opened it, set up the pieces with elaborate care, and began to move, first the white, then the black. Miss Holroyd watched me coldly at first, but after a dozen moves she became interested and leaned a shade nearer. I moved a black pawn forward. "'Why do you do that?' said Daisy. "'Because,' said I, 'the white queen threatens the pawn.' "'It was an aggressive move,' she insisted. "'Purely defensive,' I said. 'If her white highness will let the pawn alone, the pawn will let the queen alone.' "Miss Holroyd rested her chin on her wrist and gazed steadily at the board. She was flushing furiously, but she held her ground. "'If the white queen doesn't block that pawn, the pawn may become dangerous,' she said, coldly. "I laughed, and closed up the board with a snap. "'True,' I said, 'it might even take the queen.' After a moment's silence I asked, 'What would you do in that case, Miss Holroyd?'