Page:Firecrackers a realistic novel.pdf/163

 was holding an exhibition at Knoedler's, and Florizel Hammond, whose chief claim to attention was the fact that he had constituted himself a species of walking gazette. Watching him stroke his feeble moustache, Campaspe noted that it was characteristic of him that he should wear an evening suit of dark blue, the trousers of which were copiously pleated near the waist-line.

The song was over, and after the applause subsided, the buzz of conversation began again.

Mystical, drawled Lalla, damned mystical, what?

Where's the old girl stow her whisky? Jack demanded.

Campaspe wondered if they both meant the same thing. She also marvelled that she had come at all. In this languid, disinterested mood, she listened to Florizel Hammond relating to a friend the extraordinary details of a new and celebrated divorce case.

She caught him very neatly, the youth was remarking. Gene came home one night, after an absence that needed explaining, and told her that he had dined with Bud Wetmore. Gertie called Bud up immediately and asked if he had served asparagus for dinner. Armed with Bud's negative response, she forced a confession from Gene.

At the end of the tale the spinner caught Campaspe's eye.

Hello, 'paspe, he said. How did you like the singing?

It made me a little nervous, she replied.