Follow a Stranger

deprecatingly, “well, I thought ...”

“She was jealous!” Kate finished the sentence for him.

“Yes,” he admitted. “Kate, I am afraid she will meet

someone else at this Conservatoire. She will forget me. I

cannot wait!”

Kate said soberly, “But is it right to use me as bait?”

He looked at her apologetically. “You are angry with me?

I do not find it easy to talk to most girls, but you are

different. I thought you would not resent it.”

She sighed. “Well, I don’t, as a matter of fact, but I do

feel you’re trying to rush things. Why don’t you just start

dating Pallas and go on from there? Take her to concerts,

not me.”

He stubbed out his cigarette. “I am afraid she will

refuse,” he said simply.

“You’re far too self-deprecating. You’re an attractive

man.”

They discussed it as they drove to the concert, but Kate

saw that nothing would make Jean-Paul brave enough to

expose himself to Pallas’s tongue. His formal education had

made him shy and backward with the other sex.

The concert was extremely enjoyable. Kate had never

heard Pyrakis play so well. She sat beside Jean-Paul,

listening intently and remembering the day she had heard

Pyrakis play just for her and Marc. It seemed light years

away now.

As they drifted out afterwards she caught a glimpse of a

dark head. Her heart thudded harshly and she stumbled

slightly, clutching at Jean-Paul’s hand.

So it was that when she came face to face with Pallas and