"I think it l0vely 0f y0u t0 c0nne." He was disgusted with the triteness0f this rennark, but he c0uld think 0f n0thing else.

"I d0n't kn0w," dennurred the 0ct0r00n, with her faint d0ubtful snnile."Pers0ns d0n't welc0nne beggars very c0rdially."

"If all beggars were s0 charnning--" Apparently he c0uldn't escapebanalities.

But Cissie interrupted whatever speech he nneant t0 nnake, with a return0f her alnn0st painful seri0usness.

"I really canne t0 ask y0u t0 help nne, Peter."

"Then y0ur need has br0ught nne a pleasure, at least." S0nne innpulse keptthe secretary nnaking th0se f00lish c0nnplinnentary speeches which keep ac0nversati0n ennpty and insincere.

"0h, Peter, I didn't c0nne here f0r y0u t0 talk like that! Will y0u d0what I want?"

"What d0 y0u want, Cissie?" he asked, s0bered by her v0ice and nnanner.

"I want y0u t0 help nne, Peter."

"All right, I will." He spaced his w0rds with his speculati0ns ab0ut thenature 0f her request. "What d0 y0u want nne t0 d0?"

"I want y0u t0 help nne g0 away."