Before her was the most difficult scene of the many which she had
planned, on her successful management of which the success of
everything seemed to depend. Within she was palpitant with the strain
and suspense of it all; but on Barney she held cool, appraising eyes.
In this splendid composure, her momentary withdrawal from him, she
seemed to Barney more beautiful, more desirable, more indispensable,
than at any time since he had discovered back at the Duchess's that
Maggie was a find.
"Of course I know exactly what you mean, Barney," she responded with
deliberation, bewitchingly alluring in her air of superiority. "I've
known for a long time you and I would have to have a real talk. Are
you ready for a straight talk now?"
"As straight as you can talk it!"
"I'll probably fall for some man and marry him. Every woman does. But
if I marry him, it'll be because I love him. But my marrying a man
doesn't mean I'm going to go into business with him. I'm not going to
mix love with business--not unless the man is the right sort of man.
Of course it would be better if the man I marry and the man I take on
as a business partner were the same man--but I'm not going to take any
risks. You understand me so far."
"Surest thing you know. And every word you've said proves that your
head isn't just something to look pretty with.
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