The King in Yellow and the Messenger Large Print - (Robert W Chambers Masterpiece Collection Starling and Black Classic Double) (Large print, Paperback, large type edition)

"How late you are," he said, but his voice was hoarse and only his flushed face told how long had seemed the waiting. She said, "I was kept-indeed, I was so much annoyed-and-and I may only stay a moment." She sat down beside him, casting a furtive glance over her shoulder at the god upon his pedestal. "What a nuisance, that intruding cupid still there?" "Wings and arrows too," said Hastings, unheeding her motion to be seated. "Wings," she murmured, "oh, yes-to fly away with when he's tired of his play. Of course it was a man who conceived the idea of wings, otherwise Cupid would have been insupportable." "Do you think so?" "Ma foi, it's what men think." "And women?" "Oh," she said, with a toss of her small head, "I really forget what we were speaking of." "We were speaking of love," said Hastings. "I was not," said the girl. Then looking up at the marble god, "I don't care for this one at all. I don't believe he knows how to shoot his arrows-no, indeed, he is a coward;-he creeps up like an assassin in the twilight. I don't approve of cowardice," she announced, and turned her back on the statue. "I think," said Hastings quietly, "that he does shoot fairly-yes, and even gives one warning." "Is it your experience, Monsieur Hastings?" He looked straight into her eyes and said, "He is warning me." "Heed the warning then," she cried, with a nervous laugh. As she spoke she stripped off her gloves, and then carefully proceeded to draw them on again. When this was accomplished she glanced at the Palace clock, saying, "Oh dear, how late it is " furled her umbrella, then unfurled it, and finally looked at him. "No," he said, "I shall not heed his warning." "Oh dear," she sighed again, "still talking about that tiresome statue " Then stealing a glance at his face, "I suppose-I suppose you are in love." "I don't know," he muttered, "I suppose I am."