"Now, Jimmy," protested Zoie impatiently, "you aren't going to have

moral hydrophobia just when I need your help!"

"I'm not going to lie to Aggie, if that's what you mean," said Jimmy,

endeavouring not to wriggle under Zoie's disapproving gaze.

"Then don't," answered Zoie sweetly.

Jimmy never feared Zoie more than when she APPEARED to agree with him.

He looked at her now with uneasy distrust.

"Tell her the truth," urged Zoie.

"I will," declared Jimmy with an emphatic nod.

"And I'LL DENY IT," concluded Zoie with an impudent toss of her head.

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"What!" exclaimed Jimmy, and he felt himself getting onto his feet.

"I've already denied it to Alfred," continued Zoie. "I told him I'd

never been in that restaurant without him in all my life, that the

waiter had mistaken someone else for me." And again she turned her back

upon Jimmy.

"But don't you see," protested Jimmy, "this would all be so very much

simpler if you'd just own up to the truth now, before it's too late?"

"It IS too late," declared Zoie. "Alfred wouldn't believe me now,

whatever I told him. He says a woman who lies once lies all the time.

He'd think I'd been carrying on with you ALL ALONG."

"Good Lord!" groaned Jimmy as the full realisation of his predicament

thrust itself upon him.

"We don't DARE tell him now," continued Zoie, elated by the demoralised

state to which she was fast reducing him. "For Heaven's sake, don't make

it any worse," she concluded; "it's bad enough as it is."

"It certainly is," agreed Jimmy, and he sank dejectedly into his chair.

"If you DO tell him," threatened Zoie from the opposite side of the

table, "I'll say you ENTICED me into the place."

"What!" shrieked Jimmy and again he found himself on his feet.

"I will," insisted Zoie, "I give you fair warning."

He stared at her in absolute horror. "I don't believe you've any

conscience at all," he said.

"I haven't," she sniffled. "I'm too miserable." And throwing herself

into the nearest armchair she wept copiously at the thought of her many

injuries.

Uncertain whether to fly or to remain, Jimmy gazed at her gloomily.

"Well, I'M not laughing myself to death," he said.

For answer Zoie turned upon him vehemently. "I just wish I'd never laid

eyes on you, Jimmy," she cried.




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