Part 25 (1/2)
”But it was a single person,” he reminded her, ”who sinned.”
”His crime was too great to be the crime of a single man,” she a.s.serted, with a quiver of pa.s.sion in her tone. ”It was the culmination of the whole abominable selfishness of his s.e.x. One man's life is too light a price to pay for the tragedy of that half-hour. I have never spared one of your s.e.x since. I never shall.”
”So far you have been kind to me,” he persisted.
”Up to a certain point. Beyond that, I warn you, I should have no pity.
If you were a wise man, I think even now that you would thank me for my luncheon and take my hand and bid me farewell.”
”Instead of which,” he answered, smiling, ”I am waiting only to know when you will do me the honor to come and dine with me?”
She shook her head.
”I will make no appointment,” she said. ”Send me your telephone number directly you move into your rooms. If I am weary of myself I may call for you, but I tell you frankly that you must not expect it. If I see a way of making use of you, that will be different.”
”May I come and see you again?” he begged. ”You are dismissing me rather abruptly.”
She shrugged her shoulders. She was looking weary, as though the heat of the day had tried her.
”I care very little, after all,” she answered, ”whether I ever see you again. I wish I could care, although if I did the result would be the same.”
”You asked me a question a short time ago,” he remarked. ”Let me ask you the same. Have you never cared for any one?”
”I cared once for my husband.”
”You have been married?”
”Most certainly. I lived with my husband for two years.”
”And now?” he persisted.
”We are separated. You really do not know my other name?”
”I have never heard you called anything but Madame Christophor.”
”Well, you will hear it in time,” she a.s.sured him. ”You will probably think you have made a great discovery. In the meantime, farewell.”
She gave him her hands. He held them in his perhaps a little longer than was necessary. She raised her eyes questioningly. He drew them a little closer. Very quietly she removed the right one and touched a bell by her side.
”If my automobile is of any service to you, Sir Julien,” she said, ”pray use it. It waits outside and I shall not be ready to go out for an hour at least.”
”Thank you,” he replied. ”Your automobile, empty, has no attractions.”
The butler was already in the room.
”See that Sir Julien makes use of my automobile if he cares to,” she ordered. ”This has been a very pleasant visit. I hope we may soon meet again.”
She avoided his eyes. He had an instinctive feeling that she was either displeased or disappointed with him. He followed the butler out into the hall filled with a vague sense of self-dissatisfaction.
CHAPTER XVII