"Jack," she said, softly, "before you say another word I
insist on your lighting a cigarette." She leaned forward.
resting against his knee.
At her words Loder's eyes left the fire. His attention was
suddenly needed for a new and more imminent difficulty.
"Thanks!" he said, quickly. "I have no wish to smoke."
"It isn't a matter of what you wish but of what I say." She
smiled. She knew that Chilcote with a cigarette between his
lips was infinitely more tractable than Chilcote sitting idle,
and she had no intention of ignoring the knowledge.
But Loder caught at her words. "Before you ordered me to
smoke," he said, "you told me to give you some advice. Your
first command must have prior claim." He grasped
unhesitatingly at the less risky theme.
She looked up at him. "You're always nicer when you smoke,"
she persisted, caressingly. "Light a cigarette--and give me
one."
Loder's mouth became set. "No," he said, "we'll stick to this
advice business. It interests me."
"Yes--afterwards.
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