Part 108 (1/2)
”Altogether,” she concluded, ”it has been a most interesting and unusual evening. Ah, there is Monsieur Gillier!”
Gillier came up and received congratulations. His expression was very strange. It seemed to combine something that was morose with a sort of exultation. Once he shot a half savage glance at Claude. He raved about Enid Mardon.
”We are going round to see her!” Mrs. s.h.i.+ffney said. ”Come, Mr. Ramer!”
Quickly she wished Charmian and Claude good-night.
”All my congratulations!” she said. ”And a thousand wishes for a triumph on the first night. By the way, will it really be on the twenty-eighth, do you think?”
”I believe so,” said Claude.
”Can it be ready?”
”We mean to try.”
”Ah, you are workers! And Mr. Crayford's a wonder. Good-night, dear Charmian! What a night for you!”
She b.u.t.toned her sable coat at the neck and went away with Ramer and Armand Gillier.
As she turned to the right in the corridor she murmured to Gillier:
”Why didn't you give it to Jacques? Oh, the pity of it!”
Claude and Charmian said scarcely anything as they drove to their hotel.
Charmian lay back in the taxi-cab with shut eyes, her temples throbbing.
But when they were in their sitting-room she came close to her husband, and said:
”Claude, I want to ask you something.”
”What is it?”
”Have you had a quarrel with Adelaide s.h.i.+ffney?”
Claude hesitated.
”A quarrel?”
”Yes. Have you given her any reason--just lately--to dislike you personally, to hate you perhaps?”
”What should make you think so?”
”Please answer me!” Her voice had grown sharp.
”Perhaps I have. But please don't ask me anything more, Charmian. If you do, I cannot answer you.”
”Now I understand!” she exclaimed, almost pa.s.sionately.
”What?”