"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.
"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.