Part 40 (2/2)

CHAPTER V

The next afternoon Ardly burst into Nevins's studio without knocking, and paused in the centre of the floor to give dignity to his announcement.

”I have seen her,” he said.

Nevins, who was stretched upon the divan, with his feet in the air and a cigarette in his mouth, rolled his eyes indolently in Ardly's direction.

”My dear fellow,” he returned, ”am I to presume that the p.r.o.noun 'her'

refers to an individual or to a s.e.x?”

”Don't be an a.s.s,” retorted Ardly. ”I tell you I've seen Mariana.”

Nevins turned upon his side and removed the cigarette from his lips.

”Where?” he responded, shortly.

”She was coming out of Thorley's. She wore an acre of violets. She has a footman in livery.”

”How do you know it was she?”

”Well, I'll be d.a.m.ned! Don't I know Mariana?”

Nevins sat up and rested his head in his hands.

”How did she look?” he asked.

”Stunning. She has an air about her--”

”Always had.”

”Oh, a new kind of air; the way a woman moves when she is all silk on the wrong side.”

Nevins nodded.

”Speak to you?”

”I didn't give her a chance,” returned Ardly, gloomily. ”What's the use?”

The knocker rose and fell, and Mr. Paul entered, as unaltered as if he had stepped aside while the eight years slid by.

Nevins greeted him with a slight surprise, for they had drifted different ways.

”Glad to see you,” he said, hospitably; ”but this is an unusual honor.”

”It is unusual,” admitted Mr. Paul, seating himself stiffly on the edge of the divan.

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