She was an artist, but she didn't understand music. She had learned to be chic, but wasn't interested in clothes. She liked good food, but had to be told when it was good. She drank very little. She liked people more than anything else ... liked to be with them and talk to them, provided they were honest and unaffected. Everyone came to her with their troubles and she gave all her affection and help. She had never been in love. And then had come this burst of flame in the glimmering darkness with Lennox, and there was a stranger in his body who had killed the flame with his rigid poise before Alice McVeagh and was trampling on the embers in icy fury. "Please go away," Gabby said quietly. "You're making me hate you, and I don't like that." "I'm sorry, Miss Valentine," Lennox answered. "I don't know the rules of your game. Is that a request or a challenge?" "Why should it be? Do you like to fight?" "I'm enjoying this fight ... with all my heart." Lennox showed his teeth in a smile. "That's a sign of weakness, isn't it?" Gabby looked at him with steady eyes. "Like sick dogs that bite. Please go away." "You've done the biting." "Oh. You're hurt. I'm sorry." "No, I'm enjoying the game. What do you do, Miss Valentine, when you can spare the time?" "You can't be a very good writer if you talk like that," Gabby said slowly. "You sound as though you like to hate people." "I'm a very successful writer." "There's a difference." "What big teeth you have, grandma." "I don't like to be with people who hate," Gabby nodded gracefully. "Goodbye, Mr. Lennox." "The end of Round One?" "No. The end. I don't think we should see each other again." "You'll see me often," Lennox assured her. "We'll fight this to a finish." "There's nothing to fight." "Something happened, and then you changed your mind. I'd like to find out how your gears mesh. Professionally, of course. I can always use a comedy gimmick." Automatically he flexed his right arm against his chest and was appalled to remember that his gimmick book was lost, but he was too angry with Gabby to concentrate on it. "Who did you hope I was in the dark?" he asked. "Aly Khan?" "You're making it worse." "Who did you think I was?" "I thought you...." She shook her head. "How can I say? I thought I--" Suddenly her dark eyes filled with tears. "You're not very kind. I've just made a fool of myself and I'm hurt too. Are you enjoying this?" "Passionately." "Please let me go." She broke away from him and descended the library steps to the ballroom, her shoulders square, her carriage relaxed and graceful. The bright chandelier lights gleamed on her skin. Lennox followed her doggedly around the edge of the ballroom and into the bar. He could not let go. He would not let up. Gabby bent over the red-head sleeping on the bar. "Phil," she said. "It's time to leave." She shook him gently.