The demand got the Sphinx glaring again. Then she pulled back and had to smile.

“I like you”, she said, “so I take that as a joke. And, perhaps at some point, I will. Someday when I’m not wearing my favourite dress.” And someday when the waiter was not watching her, as well. It wouldn’t do to forget something like that.

The Sphinx took a last sip of her drink and stood up. “I think that for now, though, the lunch is done. Unless you have something else in mind…?”