Part 18 (2/2)
Where can I find you?”
”I hardly know--for a day or two at some hotel, and as soon as possible in a small studio, if I can find one to sublet.”
”Tell you what you do,” he suggested: ”drop me a line at the Players, letting me know when and where you settle.”
”Thank you,” she said, ”I shall.”
He was silent for a little, musing, his gaze wandering far over the placid reaches of the night-wrapped ocean. ”Funny little world, this,”
he said, rousing: ”I mean, the s.h.i.+p. Here we are today, some several hundreds of us, all knit together by an intricate network of interests, aims, ambitions and affections that seem as strong and inescapable as the warp and woof of Life itself; and yet tomorrow--we land, we separate on our various ways, and the network vanishes like a dew-gemmed spider's web before the sun.”
”Only the dew vanishes,” she reminded him; ”the web remains, if almost invisible.... Still, I know what you mean.... Wasn't that Miss Landis you were with, just now?”
”Yes.”
”Tell me”--she stirred, half turning to him--”has anything new transpired--about the collar?”
”You know about that!” he exclaimed in surprise.
”Of course; the s.h.i.+p has been humming with it ever since dinner.”
”But how--?”
”Mrs. Ilkington told me, of course. I presume Miss Landis told her.”
”Doubtless,” he agreed reluctantly, little relis.h.i.+ng the thought. Still, it seemed quite plausible, Alison's views on advertising values considered. ”No,” he added presently; ”I've heard nothing new.”
”Then the Secret Service man hasn't accomplished anything?”
”So you know about him, too?... Can't say--haven't seen him since morning. Presumably he's somewhere about, sniffing for clues.”
”Miss Landis,” said the girl in a hesitant manner--”doesn't seem to worry very much ...?”
”No,” admitted Staff.
”Either that, or she's as wonderful an actress off the boards as on.”
”They mostly are,” Staff observed. He was hardly ready to criticise his beloved to a comparative stranger. The subject languished and died of inanition.
”By the way--did you ever solve the mystery of your bandbox?”
Staff started. ”What made you think of that?”
”Oh--I don't know.”
”No--haven't had any chance. I rather expect to find out something by the time I get home, though. It isn't likely that so beautiful a hat will be permitted to blush unseen.” His interest quickened. ”Won't you tell me, please?” he begged, bending forward.
But the girl laughed softly and shook her head.
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