Part 4 (2/2)
”When you go,” she told him, ”I have made up my mind to take a little holiday. I thought even of going to the South of France.”
The lines of her companion's forehead were slightly elevated.
”My dear Marcia,” he protested gently, ”is that like you? The cla.s.s of people who frequent the Riviera at this time of the year--”
She laughed at him delightfully.
”Oh, you foolish person!” she interrupted. ”If I go, I shall go to a tiny little boarding house, or take a villa in one of the quiet places--San Raphael, perhaps, or one of those little forgotten spots between Hyres and Cannes. Phillis Grant would go with me. She isn't going to act again until the autumn season.”
Her visitor's expression was a little blank.
”In the case of your departure from London,” he announced, in a very even but very forlorn tone, ”I will instruct Mr. Wadham to make a suitable addition to your allowance. At the same time, Marcia,” he added, ”I shall miss you.”
His words were evidently a surprise to her. She threw away her cigarette and came and sat on the sofa by his side.
”Do you know, I believe you would,” she murmured, resting her hand upon his. ”How queer!”
”I have never concealed my affection for you, have I?” he asked.
This time the laugh which broke from her lips was scarcely natural.
”Concealed your affection, Reginald!” she repeated. ”How strangely that sounds! But listen. You said something just now about my allowance. If I allude to it in return, will you believe that it is entirely for your sake?”
”Of course!”
She rose from her chair and, crossing the room, rummaged about her desk for a moment, produced a letter, and brought it to him. The Marquis adjusted his horn-rimmed eyegla.s.s and read:
_Dear Madam_:
We feel that some explanation is due to you with regard to the non-payment for the last two quarters of your allowance from our client, the Marquis of Mandeleys. We have to inform you that for some time past we have had no funds in our possession to pay this allowance.
We informed his lords.h.i.+p of the fact, some time back, but in our opinion his lords.h.i.+p scarcely took the circ.u.mstance seriously. We think it better, therefore, that you should communicate with him on the subject.
Faithfully yours, WADHAM, SON AND d.i.c.kSON.
The Marquis deliberately folded up the letter, placed his eyegla.s.s in his pocket, and sat looking into the fire. There was very little change in his face. Only Marcia, to whom he had been the study of a lifetime, knew that so far as suffering was possible to him, he was suffering at that moment.
”You mustn't think it matters,” she said gently. ”You know my last novel was quite a wonderful success, and for that article in the _Nineteenth_ you were looking at, they gave me twenty guineas. I am really almost opulent. Still, I thought it was better for you to know this. The same thing might refer to other and more important matters, and you know, dear, you are rather inclined to walk with your head in the air where money matters are concerned.”
”You have been very considerate, but foolishly so, my dear Marcia,” he declared. ”This matter must be put right at once. I fear that a younger element has obtruded itself into the firm of Wadham, an element which scarcely grasps the true position. I will see these people, Marcia.”
”You are not to worry about it,” she begged softly. ”To tell you the truth--”
Marcia was a brave woman, and the moment had come up to which she had been leading for so long, which for many months, even years, had been in her mind. And when it came she faltered. There was something in the superb, immutable poise of the man who bent a little courteously towards her, which checked the words upon her lips.
”It will be no trouble to me, Marcia, to set this little affair right,”
he a.s.sured her. ”I am only glad that your circ.u.mstances have been such that you have not been inconvenienced. At the same time, is it entirely necessary for you to manipulate that hideous machine yourself?” he enquired, inclining his head towards the typewriter.
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