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'Stonor is an original,' Clare was saying 'You et him to do some of his imitations of politicians He's so funny'

'Oh, a comedian?' said Marie, her tone involuntarily touched with acid

Stonor laughed, and Clare looked puzzled, while Jahter with anxious be­wilderment

'Soet carried aith my little jokes,' he said, the dark eyes on her face

'That can be dangerous,' Marie snapped

He sather you've just come back from a trip to my mother's country, Miss Brinton How did you like the desert?'

She had a hard job to fight down her first reaction, which was to slap his face With a great effort she ed to say sweetly, 'The desert was… sandy, Mr Grey'

'And the people?' he asked still in the same courteous, detached voice

'I met some very pleasant people Only one person seemed at all objectionable'

'And as that, Miss Brinton?' he enquired suavely

She shrugged one slender shoulder, her oval face scorn­ful 'Oh, no one of any importance Just one of those silly men who think they're irresistible…'

Clare gave a soft chuckle, but James Brinton looked astonished 'Marie? What happened? You never men­tioned it to me?'

'It really didn't ot away from him without any trouble He was the sort of pest who's so consuhable'

Stonor Grey's eyes were filled with sha offended or shocked him, she had merely amused him Gravely he said, 'I hope you slapped his face, Miss Brinton Men like that have to be taught a lesson The trouble is, so et taken in and swoon helplessly in their arms I'm sure you were far too level-headed to be swept off your feetmanner'

She glared at hie at his effrontery