“The spirit of adventure,” murmured Tuppence. “It is better than a longing for romance anyway. I have that sometimes, too. I think of meeting a man, a really handsome man—”
“You have met me,” said Tommy. “Isn’t that enough for you?”
“A brown lean man, terrifically strong, the kind of man who can ride anything and lassoos wild horses—”
“Complete with sheepskin trousers and a cowboy hat,” interpolated Tommy sarcastically.
“—and has lived in the Wilds,” continued Tuppence.
“I should like him to fall simply madly in love with me. I should, of course, rebuff him virtuously and be true to my marriage vows but my heart would secretly go out to him.”
“Well,” said Tommy, “I often wish that I may meet a really beautiful girl. A girl with corn-colored hair who will fall desperately in love with me. Only I don’t think I rebuff her—in fact I am quite sure I don’t.”
“That,” said Tuppence, “is naughty temper.”
“What,” said Tommy, “is really the matter with you, Tuppence? You have never talked like this before.”
“No, but I have been boiling up inside for a long time,” said Tuppence. “You see it is very dangerous to have everything you want—including enough money to buy things. Of course there are always hats.”
“You have got about forty hats already,” said Tommy, “and they all look alike.”
“Hats are like that,” said Tuppence. “They are not really alike. There are nuances in them. I saw rather a nice one in Violette’s this morning.”