Part 32 (1/2)
”And what if it did?” he enquired placidly, clasping the thing with much delicacy round her neck. His own pleasure was intense, and yet he severely blamed himself. Indeed he called himself a criminal. Scarcely could he meet her gaze when she put her hands on his shoulders, after a long gazing into the mirror. And when she kissed him and said with frenzy that he was a dear and a madman, he privately agreed with her.
She ran to the door.
”Where are you going?”
”I must show Sissie.”
”Wait a moment, child. Do you know why I've bought that necklace?
Because the affair with Spinner has come off.” He then gave her the figures.
She observed, not unduly moved:
”But I knew _that_ would be all right.”
”How did you know?”
”Because you're so clever. You always get the best of everybody.”
He realised afresh that she was a highly disturbing woman. She uttered highly disturbing verdicts without thought and without warning. You never knew what she would say.
”I think,” he remarked, calmly pretending that she had said something quite obvious, ”that it would be as well for us not to breathe one word to anybody at all about this new windfall.”
She eagerly agreed.
”But we must really begin to spend--I mean spend regularly.”
”Yes, of course,” he admitted.
”Otherwise it would be absurd, wouldn't it?”
”Yes, of course.”
”Arthur.”
”Yes.”
”How much will it be--in income?”
”Well, I'm not going in for any more flutters. No! I've done absolutely with all speculating idiocies. Providence has watched over us. I take the hint. Therefore my investments will all have to be entirely safe and sound. No fancy rates of interest. I should say that by the time old Paul's fixed up my investments we shall have a bit over four hundred pounds a week coming in--if that's any guide to you.”
”Arthur, isn't it _wicked_!”
She examined afresh the necklace.
By the time they were all three in the car, Mr. Prohack had become aware of the fact that in Sissie's view he ought to have bought two necklaces while he was about it.
Sissie's trunks were on the roof of the car. She had decided to take up residence at the Grand Babylon that very night. The rapidity and the uncontrollability of events made Mr. Prohack feel dizzy.
”I hope you've brought some money, darling,” said his wife.