Part 65 (1/2)
”You can't deceive me, Beryl.”
”Your pose of omniscience bores me. Apart from your gift you're a very ordinary man, d.i.c.k, if you could only be brought to see it.”
”Arabian fascinates you.”
”He doesn't.”
”And that's why you're afraid of him. You're afraid of his power because you don't trust him. He's doing a lot for you. You're waking up. You're becoming interesting. A few days ago you were only a beautiful spoilt American girl, as cool and as hard as ice, brainy, vain, and totally without temperament as far as one could see. Your torch was unlit. Now this blackguard's put the match to it.”
”What nonsense, d.i.c.k!”
”Raoul!”
”M'sieu?”
”That's all very well. But my intention is to paint him, not you. Why don't you get to work hard? Why don't you put your back into it?”
”This is beyond bearing, d.i.c.k, even from you!”
She was looking really indignant. Her cheeks and forehead had reddened, her eyes seemed to spit fire at him, and her hands trembled.
”Your absolute lack of decent consideration is--you're canaille! Because you're impotent to paint I am to--no, it's too much! Canaille! Canaille!
That's what you are! I shall go back to Paris. I shall--”
Suddenly she stopped speaking and stared. The red faded out of her face.
A curiously conscious and intent look came into her eyes. She began to move her head as if in recognition of some one, stopped and sat rigid, pressing her lips together till her mouth had a hard grim line. Garstin, who could only see her and the wall at her back, watched all this with sharp interest, then, growing curious, turned round. As he did so he saw a tall, very handsome dark girl, who had certainly not been in the room when he entered it, going slowly, and as if reluctantly, towards the doorway. She was obviously a woman of the demi-monde and probably French. As she reached the door she turned her smart, impudent head and covered Miss Van Tuyn with an appraising look, cold, keen, vicious in its detached intensity, a look such as only a woman can send to another woman.
Then she went out, followed by Raoul, who seemed rather agitated, and whose back looked appealing.
”Black hair with blue lights in it!” said Garstin. ”What a beauty!”
Miss Van Tuyn sighed.
”Why wouldn't she stay?”
He was still sitting half turned towards the door.
”A table with flowers all ready for her! And she goes! Was she alone?
Ah--who was with her?”
”Arabian!” said Miss Van Tuyn, coldly.
”And he--”
”He saw us!”
”And took her away! What a lark! Too timid to face us! The naughty boy caught out in an escapade! I'll chaff him to-morrow. All their dinner wasted, and I'll bet it was a good one.”
He chuckled over his wine.