“I have—I have. You gave me a right. You’re engaged to me, aren’t you? Gosh, you haven’t _forgotten_, have you?” “Don’t make me conspicuous in the Bois, Dan,” she said; “I only let you come with me because you were so terribly desperate, so ridiculous.” “Are you alone?” he persisted. “I have got to know.” “Higgins is with me.” “Oh, God,” he cried wildly, “how can you joke with me? Don’t you understand you’re breaking my heart?” But she did not dare to be kind to him, knowing it would unnerve her for the part she had promised to play. He sat gripping his hands tightly together, his lips white. “When I leave you now,” he said brokenly, “I am going to find that devil of a Hungarian and do him up. Then I am going to tackle Ruggles.” “Why, what’s poor Mr. Ruggles got to do with it?” Dan cried scornfully: “For God’s sake, don’t keep this up! You know the rot he told you? I made him confess. He has had this mania all along about money being a handicap; he was bent on trying this game with some girl to see how it worked.” He continued more passionately. “I don’t care a rap what you marry me for, Letty, or what you have done or been. I think you’re perfect and I’ll make you the happiest woman in the world.” She said: “Hush, hush! Listen, dear; listen, little boy. I am awfully sorry, but it won’t do. I never thought it would. You’ll get over it all right, though you don’t, you can’t believe me now. I can’t be poor, you know; I really couldn’t be poor.” He interrupted roughly: “Who says you’ll be? What are you talking about? Why, I’ll cover you with jewels, sweetheart, if I have to rip the earth open to get them out.” She understood that Dan believed Ruggles’ story to have been a cock-and-bull one. “You talk as though you could buy me, Dan. Wait, listen.” She put him back from her. “Now, if you won’t be quiet, I’m going to stop my car.” He repeated: “Tell me, are you alone in Paris? Tell me. For three days I have wandered and searched for you everywhere; I have hardly eaten a thing, I don’t believe I have slept a wink.” And he told her of his weary search. She listened to him, part of the time her white-gloved hand giving itself up to the boy; part of the time both hands folded together and away from him, her arms crossed on her breast, her small shoes of coral kid tapping the floor of the car. Thus they rolled leisurely along the road by the Bois. Through the green-trunked trees the sunlight fell divinely. On the lake the swans swam, pluming their feathers; there were children there in their ribbons and furbelows. The whole world went by gay and careless, while for Dan the problem of his existence, his possibility for happiness or pain was comprised within the little room of the motor car. “Are you alone in Paris, Letty?” And she said: “Oh, what a bore you are! You’re the most obstinate creature. Well, I am alone, but that has nothing to do with you.” A glorious light broke over his face; his relief was tremendous.