Part 35 (2/2)
”Well, I can't,” she said. ”But let's talk of something else. Margaret is taboo--she's spoilt half our lunch.”
”First tell me how you got here, how you knew of my movements. I spoke of them to no one.”
”No, no, that also is taboo--until after lunch.”
”What can we talk about?”
Millicent looked at him. Her eyes suggested another topic--themselves.
”Is that taboo as well!” she said, as Michael's eyes dropped under hers.
”Absolutely,” he said.
”Happy idea!” she cried. ”The tomb! If we mayn't talk of Margaret or of our two selves or of how I got here, or of whence I came or whither you are going, surely a tomb is a safe topic?”
”Yes,” Michael said, ”if any topic is safe with you.”
”Ah,” Millicent said. ”That's the nicest thing you've said.”
”I didn't mean to be nice. What's nice in that?”
”But you were nice, awfully nice. If there are so many danger-zones to be avoided between us, you don't feel very safe, very sure of yourself.
That's triumph number one for Millicent; Margaret's lost one point already.”
”I thought Margaret was taboo?”
”Oh, so she was--I beg her pardon!” She sighed. ”'One word is too often profaned for me to profane it,' etc.” She put her elbows on the table.
”Oh, Mike, aren't you an odd darling? I do love teasing you. If you weren't so easily ragged, I wouldn't.”
”Do go on with your lunch,” he said. ”And don't chatter so much. We only have a certain amount of time for lunch and digestion. This pie's delicious.”
”Where are we going? When do we go on?” Millicent was not oblivious of the fact that he spoke of their going on as an accepted fact.
”So you don't know? You haven't found out everything?”
”No, I knew enough to bring me to you. That was all I wanted. You can tell me the rest.”
Michael was silent.
”My dear man, you needn't tell me if you don't want to, but remember that no secrets are hid from the hand that hath _baksheesh_. I found out what I wanted to know; I can find out more.”
”I'd rather you found out,” he said, ”than I told you.”
”Right ho! Funny man!”
”Do you want to hear about the tomb, or don't you?”
”Oh, yes, rather!” Millicent's teeth were busy picking the leg of a pigeon. ”Tell me everything.”
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