,,*APT] ,,XVII
               ,,F>EWELL
  ,:5 ,M>GU]ITE R1*$ H] ROOM1 %E F.D H]
MAID T]RIBLY ANXI\S AB H]4
  8,YR LADY%IP W 2 S TIR$10 SD ! POOR
WOMAN1 ^: [N EYES 7 HALF CLOS$ ) SLEEP4
8,X IS PA/ FIVE O'C40
  8,AH1 YES1 ,L\ISE1 ,I D>ESAY ,I % 2
TIR$ PRES5TLY10 SD ,M>GU]ITE1 K9DLY2 8B
Y >E V TIR$ N[1 S G 6B$ AT ONCE4 ,I'LL
GET 96B$ AL"O40
  8,B1 MY LADY '''0
  8,N[1 DON'T >GUE1 ,L\ISE1 B G 6B$4
,GIVE ME A WRAP1 & L1VE ME AL"O40
  ,L\ISE 0 ONLY TOO GLAD 6OBEY4 ,%E TOOK
(F H] MI/RESS'S GORGE\S BALL-DRESS1 &
WRAPP$ H] UP 9 A S(T BILL[Y G[N4
  8,DOES YR LADY%IP WI% = ANY?+ ELSE80
%E ASK$1 :5 T 0 D"O4
  8,NO1 NO?+ M4 ,PUT \ ! LI<TS Z Y G \40
  8,YES1 MY LADY4 ,GD-NI<T1 MY LADY40
  8,GD-NI<T1 ,L\ISE40
  ,:5 ! MAID 0 G"O1 ,M>GU]ITE DREW ASIDE
! CURTA9S & ?REW OP5 ! W9D[S4 ,! G>D5 &!
RIV] 2Y 7 FLOOD$ ) ROSY LI<T4 ,F> AWAY
6! EA/1 ! RAYS (! RIS+ SUN _H *ANG$ !
ROSE 96VIVID GOLD4 ,! LAWN 0 DES]T$ N[1
& ,M>GU]ITE LOOK$ D[N ^U ! T]RACE ": %E
_H /OOD A FEW MO;TS AGO TRY+ 9 VA9 6W9
BACK A MAN'S LOVE1 : ONCE _H BE5 S :OLLY
H]S4
  ,X 0 /RANGE T "? ALL H] TR\#S1 ALL H]
ANXIETY = ,>M&1 %E 0 MO/LY 3SCI\S AT !
PRES5T MO;T (A KE5 & BITT] HE>TA*E4
  ,H] V LIMBS SEEM$ 6A*E ) L;G+ =! LOVE
(A MAN :O _H SPURN$ H]1 :O _H RESI/$ H]
T5D];S1 REMA9$ COLD 6H] APP1LS1 & _H N
RESPOND$ 6! GL[ ( PAS.N1 : _H CAUS$ H]
6FEEL & HOPE T ^? HAPPY OLD5 "DS 9 ,P>IS
7 N ALL D1D & =GOTT54
  ,H[ /RANGE X ALL WAS6 ,%E LOV$ HM /4
,& N[ T %E LOOK$ BACK ^U ! LA/ FEW MON?S
( MIS"U/&+S &( L"OLI;S1 %E R1LIS$ T %E
_H N"E C1S$ 6LOVE HM2 T DEEP D[N 9 H]
HE>T %E _H ALW VAGUELY FELT T 8 FOOLI%
9ANITIES1 8 EMPTY LAU<1 8 LAZY NON*AL.E
7 NO?+ B A MASK2 T ! R1L MAN1 /R;G1
PAS.NATE1 WIL;L1 0 "! /--! MAN %E _H
LOV$1 ^: 9T5S;Y _H FASC9AT$ H]1 ^:
P]SONAL;Y ATTRACT$ H]1 S9CE %E ALW FELT
T 2H 8 APP>5TLY SL[ WITS "! 0 A C]TA9
"S?+1 : HE KEPT HI45 F ALL ! _W1 & MO/
ESPECI,Y F H]4
  ,A WOMAN'S HE>T IS S* A -PLEX PRO#M--!
[N] "!( IS (T5 MO/ 9COMPET5T 6F9D !
SOLU;N ( ? PUZZLE4
  ,DID ,M>GU]ITE ,BLAK5EY1 8! CL"EE/
WOMAN 9 ,EUROPE10 RE,Y LOVE A FOOL8 ,0 X
LOVE T %E _H FELT = HM A YE> AGO :5 %E
M>RI$ HM8 ,0 X LOVE %E FELT = HM N[ T %E
R1LIS$ T HE / LOV$ H]1 B T HE WD N 2COME
H] SLAVE1 H] PAS.NATE1 >D5T LOV] ONCE
AG8 ,NAY6 ,M>GU]ITE H]F CD N H TOLD T4
,N AT ? MO;T AT ANY RATE2 P]H H] PRIDE
_H S1L$ H] M9D AG/ A BETT] "U/&+ ( H] [N
HE>T4 ,B ? %E DID "K--T %E M1NT 6CAPTURE
T OB/9ATE HE>T BACK AG4 ,T %E WD 3QU]
ONCE M ''' & !N1 T %E WD N"E LOSE HM
'''4 ,%E WD
  KEEP HM1 KEEP 8 LOVE1 DES]VE X1 & *]I%
X2 = ? M* 0 C]TA91 T "! 0 NO L;G] ANY
HAPPI;S POSSI# = H] )\T T "O MAN'S LOVE4
  ,?US ! MO/ 3TRADICTORY ?"\S & EMO;NS
RU%$ MADLY "? H] M9D4 ,ABSORB$ 9 !M1 %E
_H ALL[$ "T 6SLIP BY2 P]H1 TIR$ \ ) L;G
EXCITE;T1 %E _H ACTU,Y CLOS$ H] EYES &
SUNK 96A TR\#D SLEEP1 ":9 QKLY FLEET+
DR1MS SEEM$ B ! 3T9U,N ( H] ANXI\S ?"\S
--:5 SU45LY %E 0 R\S$1 F DR1M OR M$IT,N1
0! NOISE ( FOOT/EPS \TSIDE H] DOOR4
  ,N]V\SLY %E JUMP$ UP & LI/5$2 ! H\SE
XF 0 Z / Z "E2 ! FOOT/EPS _H RETR1T$4
,"? H] WIDE-OP5 W9D[ ! BRILLIANT RAYS (!
MORN+ SUN 7 FLOOD+ H] ROOM ) LI<T4 ,%E
LOOK$ UP AT ! CLOCK2 X 0 HALF-PA/ SIX--
TOO E>LY = ANY (! H\SEHOLD 6BE ALR A/IR4
  ,%E C]TA9LY M/ H DROPP$ ASLEEP1 Q
UNCONSCI\SLY4 ,! NOISE (! FOOT/EPS1 AL (
HU%$ SUBDU$ VOICES _H AWAK5$ H]--:AT CD
!Y BE8
  ,G5TLY1 ON TIP-TOE1 %E CROSS$ ! ROOM &
OP5$ ! DOOR 6LI/52 N A S.D--T PECULI>
/ILL;S (! E>LY MORN+ :5 SLEEP ) ALL
MANK9D IS AT XS H1VIE/4 ,B ! NOISE _H
MADE H] N]V\S1 & :51 SU45LY1 AT H] FEET1
ON ! V DOOR/EP1 %E SAW "S?+ :ITE LY+ "!
--A LR EVID5TLY--%E H>DLY D>$ T\* X4 ,X
SEEM$ S <O/LIKE4 ,X C]TA9LY 0 N "! :5 %E
CAME UP/AIRS2 _H ,L\ISE DROPP$ X8 OR 0
"S TANTALIS+ SPOOK AT PLAY1 %[+ H] FAIRY
LRS ": N"O EXI/$8
  ,AT LA/ %E /OOP$ 6PICK X UP1 &1 AMAZ$1
PUZZL$ 2Y M1SURE1 %E SAW T ! LR 0
A4RESS$ 6H]F 9 H] HUSB&'S L>GE1
BUSI;SLIKE-LOOK+ H&4 ,:AT CD HE H 6SAY
6H]1 9 ! MI4LE (! NI<T1 : CD N 2 PUT (F
UNTIL ! MORN+8
  ,%E TORE OP5 ! 5VELOPE & R1D3--
      8,A MO/ UN=ESE5 CIRCUM/.E =CES ME
    6L1VE =! ,NOR? IMMLY1 S ,I BEG YR
    LADY%IP'S P>DON IF ,I D N AVAIL MYF
    (! HON\R ( BI4+ Y GD-BYE4 ,MY BUSI;S
    MAY KEEP ME EMPLOY$ = AB A WEEK1 S
    ,I % N H ! PRIVILEGE ( 2+ PRES5T AT
    YR LADY%IP'S WAT]-"PY ON ,W$NES"D4
    ,I REMA9 YR LADY%IP'S MO/ HUM# & MO/
    OB$I5T S]VANT1
      ,,P]CY ,,BLAK5EY40
  ,M>GU]ITE M/ SU45LY H BE5 IMBU$ ) H]
HUSB&'S SL[;S ( 9TELLECT1 = %E _H P]=CE
6R1D ! FEW SIMPLE L9ES OV] & OV] AG1 2F
%E CD FULLY GRASP _! M1N+4
  ,%E /OOD ON ! L&+1 TURN+ OV] & OV] 9
H] H& ? CURT & MY/]I\S EPI/LE1 H] M9D A
BLANK1 H] N]VES /RA9$ ) AGIT,N &A
PRES5TI;T %E CD N V WELL H EXPLA9$4
  ,SIR ,P]CY [N$ 3SID]A# PROP]TY 9 !
,NOR?1 C]TA9LY1 & HE _H (T5 2F G"O "!
AL"O & /AY$ AWAY A WEEK AT A "T2 B X
SEEM$ S V /RANGE T CIRCUM/.ES %D H >IS5
2T FIVE & SIX O'C 9 ! MORN+ T -PELL$ HM
6/>T 9 ? EXTREME HURRY4
  ,VA9LY %E TRI$ 6%AKE (F AN UNA3U/OM$
FEEL+ ( N]V\S;S3 %E 0 TREMBL+ F H1D
6FOOT4 ,A WILD1 UNCONQU]A# DESIRE SEIZ$
H] 6SEE H] HUSB& AG1 AT ONCE1 IF ONLY HE
_H N ALR />T$4
  ,=GETT+ ! FACT T %E 0 ONLY V LI<TLY
CLAD 9 A MORN+ WRAP1 & T H] HAIR LAY
LOOSELY AB H] %\LD]S1 %E FLEW D[N !
/AIRS1 "R "? ! HALL T[>DS ! FRONT DOOR4
  ,X 0 Z USUAL B>R$ & BOLT$1 =! 9DOOR
S]VANTS 7 N YET UP2 B H] KE5 E>S _H
DETECT$ ! S.D ( VOICES &! PAW+ (A
HORSE'S HO( AG/ ! FLAG-/"OS4
  ,) N]V\S1 TREMBL+ F+]S ,M>GU]ITE UNDID
! BOLTS "O 0"O1 BRUIS+ H] H&S1 HURT+ H]
NAILS1 =! LOCKS 7 H1VY & /IFF4 ,B %E DID
N C>E2 H] :OLE FRAME %OOK ) ANXIETY AT !
V ?"\ T %E MI<T 2 TOO LATE2 T HE MI<T H
G"O )\T H] SEE+ HM & BI4+ HM 8,GOD-
SPE$60
  ,AT LA/1 %E _H TURN$ ! KEY & ?R[N OP5
! DOOR4 ,H] E>S _H N DCVD H]4 ,A GROOM 0
/&+ CLOSE 0HOLD+ A C\PLE ( HORSES2 "O (
^! 0 ,SULTAN1 ,SIR ,P]CY'S FAV\RITE &
SWIFTE/ HORSE1 SA4L$ R1DY =A J\RNEY4
  ,! NEXT MO;T ,SIR ,P]CY HMF APPE>$ R.D
! FUR!R CORN] (! H\SE & CAME QKLY T[>DS
! HORSES4 ,HE _H *ANG$ 8 GORGE\S BALL
CO/UME1 B 0 Z USUAL IRREPROA*ABLY &
RI*LY APP>ELL$ 9 A SUIT ( F9E CLO?1 )
LACE JABOT & RU6LES1 HI< TOP-BOOTS1 &
RID+ BREE*ES4
  ,M>GU]ITE W5T =W>D A FEW /EPS4 ,HE
LOOK$ UP & SAW H]4 ,A SLI<T FR[N APPE>$
2T 8 EYES4
  8,Y >E GO+80 %E SD QKLY & FEV]I%LY4
8,:I!R80
  8,Z ,I H _H ! HON\R ( 9=M+ YR LADY%IP1
URG5T1 MO/ UNEXPECT$ BUSI;S CALLS ME 6!
,NOR? ? MORN+10 HE SD1 9 8 USUAL COLD1
DRAWLY MANN]4
  8,B ''' YR GUE/S TO-MORR[ '''0
  8,I H PRAY$ YR LADY%IP 6(F] MY HUM#
EXCUSES 6,HIS ,ROYAL ,HI<;S4 ,Y >E S* A
P]FECT HO/ESS1 ,I D N ?9K ,I % 2 MISS$40
  8,B SURELY Y MI<T H WAIT$ = YR J\RNEY
''' UNTIL AF \R WAT]-"PY '''0 %E SD1 /
SP1K+ QKLY & N]V\SLY4 8,SURELY ? BUSI;S
IS N S URG5T ''' & Y SD NO?+ AB X--J
N[40
  8,MY BUSI;S1 Z ,I _H ! HON\R 6TELL Y1
,MADAME1 IS Z UNEXPECT$ Z X IS URG5T
'''4 ,MAY ,I "!=E CRAVE YR
  P]MIS.N 6G '''4 ,C ,I D AU<T = Y 9
T[N8 ''' ON MY WAY BACK80
  8,NO ''' NO ''' ?ANKS ''' NO?+ ''' ,B
Y W 2 BACK SOON80
  8,V SOON40
  8,2F ! 5D (! WEEK80
  8,I _C SAY40
  ,HE 0 EVID5TLY TRY+ 6GET AWAY1 :IL/ %E
0 /RA9+ E N]VE 6KEEP HM BACK =A MO;T OR
TWO4
  8,P]CY10 %E SD1 8W Y N TELL ME :Y Y G
TO-"D8 ,SURELY ,I1 Z YR WIFE1 H ! "R
6"K4 ,Y H ,,N BE5 CALL$ AWAY 6! ,NOR?4
,I "K X4 ,"! 7 NO LRS1 NO C\RI]S F "! 2F
WE LEFT =! OP]A LA/ NI<T1 & NO?+ 0 WAIT+
= Y :5 WE RETURN$ F ! BALL '''4 ,Y >E
,,N GO+ 6! ,NOR?1 ,I FEEL 3V9C$ '''4 ,"!
IS "S
  MY/]Y ''' & '''0
  8,NAY1 "! IS NO MY/]Y1 ,MADAME10 HE
REPLI$1 )A SLI<T T"O ( IMPATI;E4 8,MY
BUSI;S HAS 6D ) ,>M& ''' "!6 ,N[1 H ,I
YR L1VE 6DE"P80
  8,) ,>M&8 ''' ,B Y W RUN NO DANG]80
  8,DANG]8 ,I8 ''' ,NAY1 ,MADAME1 YR
SOLICITUDE DOES ME HON\R4 ,Z Y SAY1 ,I H
"S 9FLU;E2 MY 9T5;N IS 6EX]T X 2F X 2
TOO LATE40
  8,W Y ALL[ ME 6?ANK Y AT L1/80
  8,NAY1 ,MADAME10 HE SD COLDLY1 8"! IS
NO NE$ = T4 ,MY LIFE IS AT YR S]VICE1 &
,I AM ALR M ?AN REPD40
  8,& M9E W 2 AT YRS1 ,SIR ,P]CY1 IF Y W
B A3EPT X1 9 EX*ANGE = :AT Y D = ,>M&10
%E SD1 Z1 IMPULSIVELY1 %E /RET*$ \ BO?
H] H&S 6HM4 8,"!6 ,I W
  N DETA9 Y ''' MY ?"\S G ) Y '''
,F>EWELL6 '''0
  ,H[ LOVELY %E LOOK$ 9 ? MORN+ SUNLI<T1
) H] >D5T HAIR /R1M+ >.D H] %\LD]S4 ,HE
B[$ V L[ & KISS$ H] H&2 %E FELT ! BURN+
KISS & H] HE>T ?RILL$ ) JOY & HOPE4
  8,Y W -E BACK80 %E SD T5D]LY4
  8,V SOON60 HE REPLI$1 LOOK+ L;G+LY
96H] BLUE EYES4
  8,ANY ''' Y W REMEMB]8 '''0 %E ASK$ Z
H] EYES1 9 RESPONSE 6HIS LOOK1 GAVE HM
AN 9F9;Y ( PROMISE4
  8,I W ALW REMEMB]1 ,MADAME1 T Y H
HON\R$ ME 0-M&+ MY S]VICES40
  ,! ^WS 7 COLD & =MAL1 B !Y DID N *ILL
H] ? "T4 ,H] WOMAN'S HE>T _H R1D HIS1 2N
! IMPASSIVE MASK 8 PRIDE / =C$ HM 6WE>4
  ,HE B[$ 6H] AG1 !N BE7$ H] L1VE 6DE"P4
,%E /OOD ON "O SIDE :IL/ HE JUMP$ ON
6,SULTAN'S BACK1 !N1 Z HE GALLOP$ \ (!
GATES1 %E WAV$ HM A F9AL 8,ADIEU40
  ,A B5D 9 ! ROAD SOON HID HM F VIEW2 8
3FID5TIAL GROOM _H "S DI6ICULTY 9 KEEP+
PACE ) HM1 = ,SULTAN FLEW AL;G 9
RESPONSE 6HIS MA/]'S EXCIT$ MOOD4
,M>GU]ITE1 )A SI< T 0 ALM A HAPPY "O1
TURN$ & W5T )94 ,%E W5T BACK TO
  H] ROOM1 = SU45LY1 L A TIR$ *1 %E FELT
Q SLEEPY4
  ,H] HE>T SEEM$ ALL AT ONCE 6BE 9
-PLETE P1CE1 &1 ?\< X / A*$ ) UNDEF9$
L;G+1 A VAGUE & DELICI\S HOPE SOO!D X Z
)A BALM4
  ,%E FELT NO L;G] ANXI\S AB ,>M&4 ,!
MAN :O _H J RI45 AWAY1 B5T ON HELP+ H]
BRO!R1 9SPIR$ H] ) -PLETE 3FID;E 9 8
/R5G? & 9 8 P[]4 ,%E M>VELL$ AT H]F =
HAV+ "E LOOK$ ^U HM Z AN 9ANE FOOL2 (
C\RSE1 ,,T 0 A MASK WORN 6HIDE ! BITT]
W.D %E _H D1LT 6HIS FAI? & 6HIS LOVE4 ,8
PAS.N WD H OV]MA/]$ HM1 & HE WD N LET H]
SEE H[ M* HE / C>$ & H[ DEEPLY HE SU6]$4
  ,B N[ ALL WD 2 WELL3 %E WD CRU% H] [N
PRIDE1 HUM# X 2F HM1 TELL HM "EY?+1 TRU/
HM 9 "EY?+2 & ^? HAPPY "DS WD -E BACK1
:5 !Y US$ 6W&] (F TGR 9 ! =E/S (
,FONTA9EBL1U1 :5 !Y SPOKE LL--= HE 0 ALW
A SIL5T MAN--B :5 %E FELT T AG/ T /R;G
HE>T %E WD ALW F9D RE/ & HAPPI;S4
  ,! M %E ?"\ (! EV5TS (! PA/ NI<T1 !
LESS FE> _H %E ( ,*AUVEL9 & 8 S*EMES4
,HE _H FAIL$ 64COV] ! ID5T;Y (! ,SC>LET
,PIMP]NEL1 ( T %E FELT SURE4 ,BO? ,"L
,FANC\RT & ,*AUVEL9 HMF _H ASSUR$ H] T
NO "O _H BE5 9 ! D9+-ROOM AT "O O'C
EXCEPT ! ,FR5*MAN HMF & ,P]CY--,YES6--
,P]CY6 %E MI<T H ASK$ HM1 _H %E ?"\ ( X6
,ANYWAY1 %E _H NO FE>S T ! UN"KN & BRAVE
H]O WD FALL 9 ,*AUVEL9'S TRAP2 8 D1? AT
ANY RATE WD N 2 AT H] DOOR4
  ,>M& C]TA9LY 0 / 9 DANG]1 B ,P]CY _H
PL$G$ 8 ^W T ,>M& WD 2 SAFE1 & "SH[1 Z
,M>GU]ITE _H SE5 HM RID+ AWAY1 !
POSSIBIL;Y T HE CD FAIL 9 :AT"E HE
"UTOOK N"E EV5 REMOTELY CROSS$ H] M9D4
,:5 ,>M& 0 SAFELY OV] 9 ,5GL& %E WD N
ALL[ HM 6G BACK 6,FR.E4
  ,%E FELT ALM HAPPY N[1 &1 DRAW+ !
CURTA9S CLOSELY TGR AG 6%UT \ ! PI]C+
SUN1 %E W5T 6B$ AT LA/1 LAID H] H1D ^U !
PILL[1 &1 L A WE>I$ *1 SOON FELL 96A
P1CE;L & DR1M.S SLEEP4