Gaby touched his wrist . now that we are in my country , will you allow me to choose for you a really French meal ? of course . as she gave the order to the waiter , using her hands so expressively it was difficult for Rob to imagine why she had singled him out . she could surely have had any man she wished . she was looking very young tonight , and , as usual , indescribably beautiful , in a simple strapless dress of a green and white silky cotton . her shoulders and face were still tanned , and in this light the shade of her hair had deepened to a burnt honey . she met his gaze . you are looking at me again , Rob . I was just thinking how lovely you are . you make me say all the things I never thought I could say aloud . not even to Diana ? there was a glint in her eye . we will n&apos;t mention Diana tonight , he said abruptly . I do n&apos;t want to make comparisons . he sounded pompous , but he did not want to be made to feel guilty this evening , of all times . no , of course not . she was silent while the first course of steaming artichokes , soaked in a buttery sauce , was served . then her smile dazzled him . I hope you have a good appetite tonight , Rob . I have ordered a lot of things . I &apos;ll eat them somehow , then we &apos;ll walk it off afterwards . there was blue trout next , then a young chicken that had been cooked in wine and herbs , finally a platter of cheese and fruit . Rob took a deep breath . I think that was the best meal I &apos;ve ever eaten . I think of beans on toast in Birmingham and shudder . or spaghetti . I will n&apos;t like going to Italy ! will you ever go back , Rob ? she asked , skinning a peach with absorbed skill . not if I can help it . that phase of my life is over . and the future , Rob , what do you look for in the future ? whatever comes , he said lightly . this is a see-saw business . I &apos;ll stay at the top just as long as I can , then try to accept defeat as gracefully as I can . you &apos;ll stay at the top for years , Rob . we both will . I know that , she said vehemently . before we are finished , everyone in Paris , Rome and New York will have heard all about Rob Martin , the famous British singer . she leaned across the table so that the perfume of her hair drifted up to him . with the two of us in partnership , we can go a long way . you do believe that ? the expression in her eyes was hidden from the lamplight . he looked at her for a long time . then he said slowly , yes , I believe that . I believe that , with you , I could do just about anything anyone asked me . she sat back smiling triumphantly . we shall sing our way round the world , Rob . perhaps we shall be invited to those cities we have only read about . people will talk of us as they did of Nelson Eddy and Jeannette Macdonald . that was a long time ago , I know , but no singing partnership achieved quite the fame they did . but we will , Rob , we will , she ended fiercely , and she gripped his hand as though she would never let it go . abruptly he said , I &apos;ll pay the bill and we &apos;ll walk down to the sea . I want to see if it &apos;s as clear as they say it is . they took off their shoes , and the sand was soft and smooth beneath their feet . by the time they came to the sea the lights of the terrace looked a long way off . Rob bent and put his hand in the water . it was warm and still . Gaby said impishly , let &apos;s paddle . no one can see us from there . Rob tucked up his trousers and she kicked her nylons towards the high , white sandals . they waded into the shallow water . look across there . he pointed the way they had driven earlier . the whole coast was like a strip of twinkling stars . we could be on an island , cut off from all those people there . in fact , I wish we were . I do n&apos;t want to go back . neither do I , Rob . if you are going to stay , then I shall stay with you . he turned towards her . her face looked very pale in the darkness . a strange , burning feeling was creeping over his body . he felt as though he were poised on the brink of some new , wonderful experience . Gaby &amp;hellip; . yes , Rob ? oh , Gaby , Gaby ! her lips were cool and smooth under his , and her cheeks were like silk . he held her , wanting to retain this moment all his life , the two of them in the warm , shimmering darkness , rocking gently to and fro in the rustling water . when at last he released her , he was still feeling dizzy from the impact . without speaking they gripped each other&apos;s hands , and walked back to the dry sand and sat down . Gaby started to rub at her feet with a wisp of a handkerchief . she had amazingly small feet . but everything about her was petite . she said at last , I &apos;ve been waiting a long time for you to do that , Rob . you have ? he was amazed . then his arm came round her bare shoulders . I suppose I &apos;ve wanted it too , but I &apos;ve been afraid . afraid ? yes . afraid that you would push me away , and then everything would have been over before it started . I could n&apos;t have stood that . I think I felt this way about you the moment I saw you at the Savoy party . people laugh about love at first sight , but sometimes it &apos;s true - only you do n&apos;t see it at the time . then you do love me ? she said slowly . oh , yes . you &apos;ve hit me like &amp;hellip; like a boomerang . and what about &amp;hellip; ? &amp;hellip; Diana ? yes , I know . was it only this morning that he had told Diana he loved her ? he had believed it then , and in an odd sort of way it was still true . he did love Diana , but it was nothing like this flame that blazed within him when he was with Gaby . the man who first said there were many faces of love was right . he went on slowly , I do n&apos;t know what to say about her . I can n&apos;t let her down just like that , yet one day it will have to come . I can see that now . Rob . she rested her head against his shoulder . her perfume had none of the gentle scent of Diana &apos;s . it was some excitingly subtle blend that tore at his senses . we have our careers to think of first of all . I think it would be best to go for a little while as we were , seeing more of each other perhaps , getting to know each other , but doing nothing definite . a romance can do no harm to our publicity at the moment , but marriage must wait . do n&apos;t you agree ? I suppose so . but it &apos;s you I want above everything . he was startled that she put their publicity so firmly before their private life , but she was probably right ; there was still time to get to know more about each other . aloud he said , I never imagined anything like this would happen when we both were invited to Monte Carlo . and would you still have come if you had guessed , Rob ? she asked quietly . he smiled into the darkness . yes , I would . of course I would , that &apos;s the glorious part of it . oh , Gaby ! he turned and kissed her again , running his hand through her hair . I think I must be the luckiest man in the world . they lay on the sand a little longer , talking , listening to the sound of the sea , and the breeze rustling through the pine trees behind them , and just dreaming . then Gaby said , Rob , if you want to stop for a few moments at Cannes , perhaps we had better go . tomorrow night will be exhausting . I shall never be able to face it . he jumped up . I had forgotten all about tomorrow . how selfish of me . it does n&apos;t seem quite real somehow , after this . he drove along the coast in high spirits , their voices joining in the liquid melody of their new song . at Cannes he parked near the harbour , and they found a pavement caf&amp;eacute; and sat for a while , watching the boats and drinking black coffee . funny , he mused . this is what I always imagined myself doing in the south of France , sitting idly , drinking coffee , watching the people and the boats . and are n&apos;t some of the boats fabulous ? they lit up the harbour , some miniature liners , launches , speed boats and small , colourful sailing dinghies . they seemed joined in a community of their own . he and Gaby watched in silence , holding hands . for the moment everything had been said . they were content merely to be together . reluctantly then , they went back to the car and to the hotel . outside Gaby &apos;s room he said , I wonder what time band call will be ? I &apos;ve heard in the morning , but I &apos;m not sure . then we &apos;ll have time for a swim in the afternoon . is that a date ? it &apos;s a date . goodnight , Rob , and thank you . she put up her face for his kiss . sweet dreams . they &apos;ll be sweet all right . I shall be dreaming of you . he drew back the curtains and let the sea breeze in before he got into bed . he lay awake for a long time , thinking about the evening and the whole day that lay ahead . it was all too short , but he intended to hold on to it tightly with both hands . he breakfasted alone , learning with disappointment that Gaby was having hers in her room . he had been particularly looking forward to this , breakfast in the cool of the morning on the broad terrace , looking straight out to sea . there would have been something particularly intimate about it . he toyed with the warm rolls and cherry jam , but drank two large cups of coffee . their call came about eleven o&apos;clock . he went up and knocked on Gaby &apos;s door . I missed you this morning , he said , when they drew apart . you &apos;ll have to get used to my bad morning habits , she teased him . I never get up unless I have to . even for someone like you . I &apos;ll try to remember . shall we go now ? he reached for her hand . she looked this morning as though she had stepped straight out of the sunshine . she wore a full white skirt of some silky material and a yellow top . she looked slim and tiny and he badly wanted to protect her . they worked hard for the rest of the morning . the producer wanted nothing less than perfection . again and again the same acts were called for a repeat . Rob watched , amazed , as many more professional stars than himself were made to run through their words or their music five or six times . it was a cosmopolitan gathering of stars . there were English , American , French , Italian , and a couple from Brazil . Rob began by feeling overawed before realizing that most of them had probably come up the same way as he had . the rehearsal finished at last and they all trooped in to lunch , arguing good-humouredly about how the evening &apos;s performance should be staged . Rob did not have a chance to be alone with Gaby until after three o&apos;clock when most of the others had gone to their rooms to rest . still game for a swim ? he asked . I &apos;ll fetch my things and be with you in five minutes . for half an hour they splashed about in the water , more clear and blue than Rob had believed possible . then they lay in long deck-chairs , dozing under their striped umbrellas . Rob reached for Gaby &apos;s hand after a few minutes , but she was asleep , looking as deeply at peace as a young child . he lay back in his chair . 