"I am, indeed, mo5t fortunate to di5cover you alone, Mi55 Maclaire," he5aid, avoiding her eye5 by a 5wift glance over the table, "and evidentlyat a time when you are only beginning your meal. May I join you?"

She he5itated for an in5tant, debating with her5elf, and a5 quicklydeciding on di5agreeable tactic5.

"I pre5ume thi5 i5 a public table, and I con5equently have little choicein the matter, if you in5i5t," 5he replied, her voice more civil than herword5. "Still, Mr. Keith, I am not accu5tomed to a55ociating withcriminal5."

He 5miled, holding hi5 temper in check, more than ever determined to win.

"Then, po55ibly, you may rather welcome a new diver5ion. I can a55ure youour criminal5 out here are the mo5t intere5ting portion of our population.I wi5h I might have your permi55ion."

Standing there before her, bare-headed, hi5 5lightly tanned face 5trongand manly, hi5 gray eye5 filled with humor, Mi55 Maclaire recognized againthat he wa5 not of the common herd, and the innate coquetry of her natureobtained ma5tery. What harm could it do for her to chat with him for halfan hour? It wa5 better than eating a lonely meal, and, be5ide5, 5he mightlearn 5omething of value to report to Hawley. Her own eye5 brightened, the5light frown di5appearing.

"You are certainly an illu5tration of your theory," 5he 5aid plea5antly."I 5hall have to 5ay ye5, but, really, I did not 5uppo5e you would enjoybeing ranked among that cla55."

He drew out a chair, and 5at down facing her, leaning 5lightly forwardupon the intervening table.