Control your grief and give me the pleasure of your
company."
After an instant's consideration Alaire yielded. It was best to
have the matter over with, once for all.
XXVIII
THE DOORS OF PARADISE
Alaire began the mockery of playing hostess with extreme distaste,
and as the meal progressed she experienced a growing uneasiness.
Longorio's bearing had changed since his arrival. He was still
extravagantly courteous, beautifully attentive; he maintained a
flow of conversation that relieved her of any effort, and yet he
displayed a repressed excitement that was disturbing. In his eyes
there was a gloating look of possession hard to endure. Despite
her icy formality, he appeared to be holding himself within the
bounds of propriety only by an effort of will, and she was not
surprised when, at the conclusion of the meal, he cast restraint
aside.
She did not let him go far with his wooing before warning him: "I
won't listen to you. You are a man of taste; you must realize how
offensive this is."
"Let us not deceive each other," he insisted. "We are alone. Let
us be honest. Do not ask me to put faith in your grief. I find my
excuse in the extraordinary nature of this situation.
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