But the driver seemed courteous enough when the cab drew in to the curb in front of Roger's apartment-house residence, perhaps because Roger tossed him two dollars and told him to keep the change, but more probably because he was a very young, pleasant-faced lad who looked as innocent as a new-shorn lamb. Roger had two cocktails with cherries aswim in them standing on a tray five minutes after he'd turned the key in the door of his apartment. He was very good at that and even now, despite her anger, she admired that aspect of his woman-pleasing competence. "Why don't you take off your dress and be comfortable, darling," he said. "We're not exactly strangers, you know." She shook her head. "You're entitled to believe what you wish. But we started being strangers about two hours ago. Right now I feel as if I knew absolutely nothing about you--beyond the fact that when you meet an attractive woman for the first time she's tight in your arms a half hour later. You don't believe in letting a single blade of grass grow under your feet, do you?" "Now look--" he protested. "Do you have to be _quite_ that touchy? I'll go further than I did. It was partly my fault. You could say, I suppose, that I put up no resistance, was carried away by the liquor, the soft lights, the music. And I was plenty pie-eyed. It usually takes a dozen Manhattans to make me as tight as I was a few hours ago. Too much acid in the system or something like that. It happens sometimes." "It's worn off now ... is that it? So you've got a perfect excuse and any other woman would understand and fall into your arms and beg to be forgiven for her lack of understanding." "No, you've a right to be a little burned up. But do you have to work over it the way you're doing, build it up into something criminal? You'd think I'd tried to rape her or something." "You almost did. I was afraid for a moment we'd be asked to leave ... and not too politely." "You're exaggerating a hell of a lot and I'm sure you know it." "Nothing of the kind. The way you were dancing wouldn't have been tolerated in half the dives in the Village. I mean the real dives--not the kind that are reserved for tourists." "You know all about them, I suppose. Have you been to them often?" "I've never stepped inside one. But I wasn't born yesterday. I know what goes on in such places." "Look, we're getting nowhere. Will you believe me and listen? If I met her tomorrow on the street I'd just say hello, and smile and tip my hat and pass on. I swear it." "I can just picture it. She'd smile back, and the way she smiles when she knows what she wants and will have no trouble getting it--doesn't require any effort on her part. It just comes naturally. And going home with her would come naturally to you, too.