Part 6 (1/2)
Women in talking of him in connection with her said it was a pity; men said he was lucky.
One evening, at a reception at her house, he was in the gentlemen's dressing-room. It was evidently a lady's apartment which had been devoted for the occasion as a dressing-room. It was quite full at the time. A man, a large fellow with sleek, short hair, a fat chin, and a dazzling waistcoat, pulled open a lower drawer in a bureau. Articles of a lady's apparel were discovered, spotless and neatly arranged. ”Shut that drawer instantly,” said Floyd, in a low, imperious tone.
”Suppose I don't, what then?”
”I will pitch you out of that window,” said Floyd, quietly, moving a step nearer to him. The drawer was closed, and the man turned away.
”Do you know who that was?” asked someone of Floyd.
”No, not the slightest idea.”
”That was young Router, the son of the great Router.”
”Who is the-great-Router?”
”The great pork man. His son is the one who is so attentive to Miss Dangerlie.”
”I am glad he closed the drawer,” said Floyd, quietly.
”He is said to be engaged to her,” said the gentleman.
”He is not engaged to her,” said Floyd.
Later on he was talking to Miss Dangerlie. He had taken her out of the throng. ”Do you know who introduced me to you?” he asked.
”Yes, Mrs. Drivington.”
”No, a little girl.”
”Who? Why, don't you remember! I am surprised. It was just in the doorway!”
”Oh! yes, I remember well enough. I met a beauty there, but I did not care for her. I met you first on the stairway, and a child introduced me.”
”Children interest me, they always admire one,” she said.
”They interest me, I always admire them,” he said. ”They are true.”
She was silent, then changed the subject.
”A singular little incident befell me this evening,” she said. ”As I was coming home from a luncheon-party, a wretched woman stopped me and asked me to let her look at me.”
”You did it, of course,” he said.
She looked at him with her eyes wide open with surprise.
”What do you suppose a man said to me upstairs?” he asked her.
”What?”