Part 21 (2/2)
Again the soft little amused laugh.
”Hardly. I sell them. There are five more in prospect--an even dozen.”
”Oh. I wondered.”
Another void; an equally abrupt return.
”To come back to the date,” recalled the man, ”I remembered it distinctly this morning when I tore the top leaf off the desk-pad. It stood out as though it were printed in red ink, like the date of a holiday. I--do I show signs of becoming senile--childish, Elice?”
”Not that I've noticed. You seem normal.”
”Nor irresponsible--moonstruck--nothing of that kind?”
”No.”
”I'm glad to hear it. I didn't know.... Somehow this morning the sight of that date made me do a thing I haven't done since--I don't know when. I had a consuming desire to celebrate.”
The girl's head was bent low, the better to see her work.
”Yes?” she said.
Again the man stroked his chin, with the former movement of whimsical deliberation.
”Do you know what people down town, people I do business with, call me, Elice?” he asked.
”No.”
”Never heard of 'old man' Roberts?”
”No,” again.
”Well, that's me--old man Roberts--old man--thirty-four.... By the way, what do you call me, Elice?”
”Mr. Roberts,” steadily.
”Not Darley; not once in all this last year?”
No answer.
”Not Darley--even once?”
”I think not.”
The eyes of the man smiled, the eyes only.
”To return again, old man Roberts had a desire to celebrate. The date was on his brain. He didn't even take off his coat after he'd seen it--normally the old man works in his s.h.i.+rt-sleeves, you know--he just walked back from his private room into the general office. 'To-day's a holiday,' he said.
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