With the coffee he lighted a cigarette and leaned back contentedly
until it was time to go.
As they went out of the room, he was aware that once again all eyes
were turned toward her, so that he threw back his shoulders a little
farther than usual and looked about with some scorn at those who had
with them only ordinary women.
The comedy at the Gymnase was sufficiently amusing to hold her
attention, and that was the best she could ask for; but Monte watched
it indifferently, resenting the fact that it did hold her attention.
Besides, there were too many people all about her here. For two hours
and a half it was as if she had gone back into the crowd. He was glad
when the final curtain rang down and he was able to take her arm and
guide her out.
"Maxim's next?" he inquired.
"Do you want to go?" she asked.
"It's for you to decide," he answered.
She was dead tired by now, but she did not dare to stop.
"All right," she said; "we'll go."
It was a harlequin crowd at Maxim's--a noisier, tenser, more hectic
crowd than at the Riche. The room was gray with smoke, and everywhere
she looked were gold-tipped wine bottles. Though it was still early,
there was much hysterical laughter and much tossing about of long
streamers of colored paper and confetti. As they entered she
instinctively shrank away from it. Had the waiter delayed another
second before leading them to a table, she would have gone out.
Monte ordered the wine he was expected to order, but Marjory scarcely
touched it to her lips, while he was content to watch it bubble in his
glass. He did not like to have her here, and yet it was almost worth
the visit to watch her eyes grow big, to watch her sensitive mouth
express the disgust she felt for the mad crowd, to have her
unconsciously hitch her chair nearer his.
"The worst of it is," he explained to her, "it's the outsiders who are
doing all this--Americans, most of them."
Suddenly, from behind them, a clear tenor voice made itself heard
through the din. The first notes were indistinct; but in a few seconds
the singer had the room to himself. Turning quickly, Marjory saw the
slender figure of Hamilton, swaying slightly, standing by a table, his
eyes leveled upon hers. He was singing "The Rosary"--singing it as
only he, when half mad, could sing it.
She clutched Monte's hand as he half rose from his seat.
"Please," she whispered, "it's best to sit still."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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