"Oh, yes, I shall die some day like the rest of you," she answered flippantly. "But I shan't have you by my death-bed. I shouldn't think you had ever seen anybody die, have you?" "Why not?" said Max. "Nobody could with you standing by. You're too vital, too electric. I picture you with your back against the door and your arms spread out, hounding the poor wretch back into the prison-house." Max got up abruptly and moved to the window. "You have a vivid imagination," he said. She laughed, drawing her fingers idly across the strings of her mandolin. "Quite nightmarishly so sometimes. It's rather a drawback for some things. How are you enjoying that book of mine? Do you appreciate the Arabian Nights' flavour in modern literature?" "It's a bit rank, isn't it?" said Max. She laughed up at him. "I should have thought you would have been virile enough to like rank things. To judge by the tobacco you smoke, you do." "Poisonous, isn't it?" said Nick. "I suppose it soothes his nerves, but it sets everyone else's on edge." Violet stretched out her hand to a box of cigarettes that stood on a table within reach. "You would probably feel insulted if I offered you one of these," she said, "but I practically live on them." "Very bad for you," said Max. She snapped her fingers at him. "Then I shall certainly continue the pernicious habit. Do you know Major Hunt-Goring? It was he who gave them to me. He thinks he is going to marry me,--but he isn't!" "Great Lucifer!" said Nick. She turned towards him. "What an appropriate name! I wish I'd thought of it. Do you know him?" "Know him!" Nick's grimace was expressive. "Yes, I know him." "Well?" "Rather better than he thinks." She laughed again, lightly, inconsequently, irresistibly. "He's a fascinating creature. It is his proud boast that he has kissed every girl in the neighbourhood except me." "What an infernal liar!" said Nick. "How do you know?" Gaily she challenged him. "It's quite probably true. He is exceedingly popular with the feminine portion of the community. I notice that friend Max maintains a shocked silence." "Not at all," said Max. "I was only wondering why he had made an exception of you." She tossed her head. "Can't you guess?" "No, I can't," he returned daringly. "I should have thought you would have been the first on the list." "How charming of you to say so!" said Violet. "Perhaps you are not aware of the fact that the sweetest fruit is generally out of reach." "You might have let me say that," said Nick. "But the man is a liar in any case, and I hope he will give me the opportunity to tell him so." Violet regarded him with interest. "I had no idea you were so pugnacious. Do you always tell people exactly what you think of them? Is it safe?" "Quite safe for him," said Max. "Why?" Violet turned back to him, her fingers carelessly plucking at the instrument on her knee.