The sweat broke out on his forehead. For a moment he closed his eyes with a sick feeling of hopelessness, and when he opened them again he saw Esther standing there not half a dozen paces from him. The glare from a huge arc lamp shone full on her slim figure and golden hair. She was looking round her in a scared, apprehensive way as if not knowing where to go. A wave of such utter relief swept through Micky's very soul that for a moment it almost turned him faint. She was quite alone, but as Micky watched her he saw a French porter in a blue blouse go up to her and start chattering away, pointing to the small suit-case she carried and gesticulating violently. Esther shook her head--Micky remembered that she knew no French--but the man persisted, and she shook her head again in a frightened sort of way. Micky covered the distance between them in a couple of strides. "Esther...." he said, in a queer, choked sort of voice. She turned with a stifled scream, and a most unwilling relief swept her face. "Oh, Micky!" she said breathlessly. She put out her hand as if to grip his arm, then drew it away, moving back. "How did you come here ... oh, how dare you follow me...?" she said passionately. Micky took her arm very gently. "We found your note," he said. "I had to come ... June said...." Then suddenly his calmness broke "Oh, thank God I found you--thank God!" he said hoarsely. CHAPTER XXVIII Esther seemed arrested by the emotion in Micky's voice. She stood looking up at him with wide eyes and parted lips, then suddenly she broke out again-- "I don't know what you mean. I'll never forgive June if she sent you after me. I'm going to Paris. I'm not a child to be followed and looked after like this.... Let me go." Micky released her arm at once. When he spoke his voice was quiet and rather stern. "Please don't make a scene. I have followed you for your own sake. I know I can't stop you from going to Paris. I'm not going to try. All I do ask you is that you will let me speak to you. If what I have to say is useless, I give you my word of honour that I will leave you here and let you go on to Paris alone." She looked at him with stormy eyes. "I don't believe it--it isn't the first time you've lied to me...." she broke off breathlessly. Micky turned pale, but he answered evenly enough-- "You're quite justified in saying that; I'm not going to try and deny it. But we can't stand here all night--people are beginning to stare at us...." "I don't care----" but she dropped her voice a little, and when Micky made a slight movement forward she followed. It was cold on the quay--there was a fresh wind blowing, and Esther shivered. "There's a restaurant place here," Micky said. "I want a meal if you don't; I haven't had anything since breakfast." He found a table and ordered a meal, but he knew he should not be able to eat a thing.