But he
was forceful in his way, and the very intensity of his desires
made him incapable of discouragement. So the duel progressed--
Alaire cool and unyielding, he warm, persistent, and tireless. He
wove about her an influence as difficult to combat as the
smothering folds of some flocculent robe or the strands of an
invisible web, and no spider was ever more industrious.
When the train arrived at its destination his victim was well-nigh
exhausted from the struggle. He helped her into a coach with the
gentlest and gravest courtesy, and not until the vehicle rolled
away did Alaire dare to relax. Through her fatigue she could still
hear his soft farewell until the morrow, and realized that she had
committed herself to his further assistance. His palms against
hers had been warm, his adoring eyes had caressed her, but she did
not care. All she wished now was to reach her hotel, and then her
bed.
After a good night's rest, however, Alaire was able to smile at
yesterday's adventure. Longorio did not bulk so large now; even
these few hours had greatly diminished his importance, so that he
appeared merely as an impulsive foreigner who had allowed a woman
to turn his head.
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