Page:Frank Owen - Woman Without Love (1949 reprint).djvu/104



or other Madame Leota succeeded in giving a certain tone to the house. It was almost as though it absorbed her personality. It was expansive and friendly. The halls echoed with laughter.

When occasionally neighbors complained, nothing happened. Madame seemed to be beyond the law. She was simply running a high class boarding-house. Certainly there was never any loud noise or commotion about her establishment. It was impossible to obtain indictments. After all there was no evidence of criminality.

Madame was in right with the politicians and many of the politicians were fortunate in being in right with her. In their eyes she could do no wrong. And possibly she couldn't. Certainly her philanthropies were many.

No house in the neighborhood was better cared for. The flowers in the garden were exquisite. They were happy because they were tended by old Marlow who loved them. Old Marlow went serenely about his work without a care or trouble in the world. He had faith. He believed that everything would eventually turn out all right. In the meantime Madame Leota saw to it that he did not work too hard nor want for anything. Had it not been for her he would have been living on the fringe of poverty.

Terese, Madame's maid, had been with her ever since she opened the establishment. For twenty years she watched over her mistress, nor did she mind her endless scoldings and fault-findings. To Terese, Madame was merely a lovable grumbler. She would not have changed her. At least Madame with her raucous voice and ever-changing moods was never dull.

Next in importance to Terese at the house was Marigold Gray, the housekeeper. She helped plan the meals and saw to it that the rooms were always clean and well-aired. But she