Part 36 (1/2)

Something he saw in her eyes moved him strangely as he turned away.

”Would you like me,” he asked hesitatingly, ”supposing I get away early--would you like me to come in and say good night to you later on?”

Her face was suddenly flushed with joy.

”Oh, do!” she begged. ”Do!”

He turned away with a smile.

”Very well,” he said. ”Don't shut up just yet and I will try.”

”I shall stay here until three o'clock,” she declared,--”until four, even. You must come. Remember, you must come. See.”

She held out to him her key.

”I can knock at the door,” he protested. ”You would hear me.”

”But I might fall asleep,” she answered. ”I am afraid. If you have the key, I am sure that you will come.”

He put it in his waistcoat pocket with a laugh.

”Very well,” he said, ”if it is only for five minutes, I will come.”

CHAPTER XXIV

A SUPPER PARTY AT LUIGI'S

Laverick walked into Luigi's Restaurant at about a quarter to twelve, and found the place crowded with many little supper-parties on their way to a fancy dress ball. The demand for tables was far in excess of the supply, but he had scarcely shown himself before the head maitre d'hotel came hurrying up.

”Mademoiselle Idiale is waiting for you, sir,” he announced at once.

”Will you be so good as to come this way?”

Laverick followed him. She was sitting at the same table as last night, but she was alone, and it was laid, he noticed with surprise, only for two.

”You have treated me,” she said, as she held out her fingers, ”to a new sensation. I have waited for you alone here for a quarter of an hour--I! Such a thing has never happened to me before.”

”You do me too much honor,” Laverick declared, seating himself and taking up the carte.

”Then, too,” she continued, ”I sup alone with you. That is what I seldom do with any man. Not that I care for the appearance,” she added, with a contemptuous wave of the hand. ”Nothing troubles me less. It is simply that one man alone wearies me. Almost always he will make love, and that I do not like. You, Mr. Laverick, I am not afraid of. I do not think that you will make love to me.”

”Any intentions I may have had,” Laverick remarked, with a sigh, ”I forthwith banish. You ask a hard task of your cavaliers, though, Mademoiselle.”

She smiled and looked at him from under her eyelids.

”Not of you, I fancy, Mr. Laverick,” she said. ”I do not think that you are one of those who make love to every woman because she is good-looking or famous.”

”To tell you the truth,” Laverick admitted, ”I find it hard to make love to any one. I often feel the most profound admiration for individual members of your s.e.x, but to express one's self is difficult--sometimes it is even embarra.s.sing. For supper?”

”It is ordered,” she declared. ”You are my guest.”