"Well, couldn't you slip back to the hotel somehow? Quite
quietly, I mean, and- "

"I could slip all right," said I. "The short grass on the top of
the cliffs would help me there. But, my dear girl, how on earth
can I do anything quietly in this dress?"

"Everybody will be- "

"Just finishing lunch or sitting on the terrace. Thanks very
much."

"There's a back door."

"I never thought of that. Splendid! Leading to the kitchen, of
course. They'd never notice me there. And I could just drop in
at the office for the key of my room, and see if there were any
letters on the way up, and- My dear girl, how can I? I admit
I've a good deal of nerve, but there is a limit. I know one can
do most things nowadays, but- "

"But this is a special occasion."

"You seem to want to make it one."

"And it can't be helped. This sort of modesty's out of date."

"Not my date."

"Besides, everybody'd understand."