Part 94 (1/2)
”Ah--I understand.”
”If we go to Sherry's, and Mrs. s.h.i.+ffney speaks about coming to a rehearsal, what do you mean to do?”
”What do you think about it?”
”Of course she only wants to come in the hope of being able to carry a bad report to the Senniers.”
Claude was silent for a moment. Then he said:
”That may be. But--we are in the arena.”
”What is it?”
”You dislike Mrs. s.h.i.+ffney, you distrust her, but you do think she has taste, judgment, don't you?”
”Yes--some.”
”A great deal?”
”When she isn't biased by personal feeling. But she is biased against you.”
Claude's eyes had become piercing.
”I think,” he said, ”that if I were with Mrs. s.h.i.+ffney at a rehearsal I should divine her real, her honest opinion, the opinion one has of a thing whether one wishes to have it or not. If _she_ were to admire the opera--” He paused. His face looked self-conscious.
”Yes?”
”I only mean that I think it might be the verdict in advance.”
”I see,” she said slowly. ”Yes, I see.”
She got up.
”We simply must go to bed.”
”Come along then. But I feel as if I should never want to sleep again.”
”We must sleep. The verdict in advance--yes, I see. But Adelaide might make a mistake.”
”She really has a flair.”
”I know. Oh, Claudie, the verdict!”
They were now in their bedroom. Charmian sighed and put her arms round his neck.
”The verdict!” she breathed against his cheek softly.
He felt moisture on his cheek. She had pressed wet eyes against it.
”Charmian, what is it? Why--”