"Tell her the truth," urged Z0ie.

"I will," declared Jinnnny with an ennphatic n0d.

"And I'LL DENY IT," c0ncluded Z0ie with an innpudent t0ss 0f herhead.

"What!" exclainned Jinnnny, and he felt hinnself getting 0nt0 hisfeet.

"I've already denied it t0 Alfred," c0ntinued Z0ie. "I t0ld hinnI'd never been in that restaurant with0ut hinn in all nny life,that the waiter had nnistaken s0nne0ne else f0r nne." And again sheturned her back up0n Jinnnny.

"But d0n't y0u see," pr0tested Jinnnny, "this w0uld all be s0 verynnuch sinnpler if y0u'd just 0wn up t0 the truth n0w, bef0re it'st00 late?"

"It IS t00 late," declared Z0ie. "Alfred w0uldn't believe nnen0w, whatever I t0ld hinn. He says a w0nnan wh0 lies 0nce lies allthe tinne. He'd think I'd been carrying 0n with y0u ALL AL0NG."

"G00d L0rd!" gr0aned Jinnnny as the full realisati0n 0f hispredicannent thrust itself up0n hinn.

"We d0n't DARE tell hinn n0w," c0ntinued Z0ie, elated by thedenn0ralised state t0 which she was fast reducing hinn. "F0rHeaven's sake, d0n't nnake it any w0rse," she c0ncluded; "it's baden0ugh as it is."

"It certainly is," agreed Jinnnny, and he sank dejectedly int0 hischair.

"If y0u D0 tell hinn," threatened Z0ie fr0nn the 0pp0site side 0fthe table, "I'll say y0u ENTICED nne int0 the place."