Part 38 (1/2)

”Monster!” she said. ”Come this way.” And she led him down the tunnel to the bedroom. There, in a corner of the bathroom, stood an antique closed toilet-stand, such as was used by men in the days before splas.h.i.+ng and sousing were invented. She had removed it from the drawing-room.

”Open it,” she commanded.

He obeyed. Its little compartments, which had been empty, were filled with a man's toilet instruments--brushes, file, scissors, shaving-soap (his own brand), a safety-razor, &c. The set was complete. She had known exactly the requirements.

”It is a little present from thy woman,” she said. ”In future thou wilt have no excuse--Sit down. Marie!”

”Madame?”

”Take off the boots of Monsieur.”

Marie knelt.

Christine found the new slippers.

”And now this!” she said, after he had washed and used the new brushes, producing a black house-jacket with velvet collar and cuffs.

”How tired thou must be after thy day!” she murmured, patting him with tiny pats.

”Thou knowest, my little one,” she said, pointing to the gas-stove in the bedroom fireplace. ”For the other rooms a gas-stove--I am indifferent. But the bedroom is something else. The bedroom is sacred.

I could not tolerate a gas-stove in the bedroom. A coal fire is necessary to me. You do not think so?”

”Yes,” he said. ”You are quite right. It shall be seen to.”

”Can I give the order? Thou permittest me to give the order?”

”Certainly.”

In the drawing-room she cus.h.i.+oned him well in the best easy-chair, and, sitting down on a pouf near him, began to knit like an industrious wife who understands the seriousness of war. Nothing escaped the attention of that man. He espied the telegram.

”What's that?”

”Ah!” she cried, springing up and giving it to him. ”Stupid that I am!

I forgot.”

He looked at the address.

”How did this come here?” he asked mildly.

”Marie brought it--from the Albany.”

”Oh!”

He opened the telegram and read it, having dropped the envelope into the silk-lined, gilded waste-paper basket by the fender.

”It is nothing serious?” she questioned.

”No. Business.”