Page:Neith Boyce--The bond.djvu/41

39 A moment later he said: "Here comes Mary Addams—she's coming to speak to us—no, Jack's somewhere out of sight."

He got up as a tall woman dressed plainly in dark-blue cloth, with a clever and worldly face, came to their table.

"Don't let me disturb you—just a word—just to ask you not to say you've seen us!" she said, smiling at them both.

"Of course not," both answered at once in some slight confusion.

"You'll think it awfully queer—but we dine together on the quiet now and then. Jack's impossible as a husband—but he's very nice at dinner once a fortnight!"

She nodded and went back, with her quick supple motion that drew the eyes of the people she passed; and they saw her leave the place, followed by the big, good-looking Addams, who carefully avoided looking in their direction. "People are queer," said Basil, as he dropped into his seat again and lit a cigarette. "Will you dine with me once a fortnight after you divorce me?"

Teresa did not answer. She glanced dreamily about the room, at the various faces which at this stage of dinner all looked lightly or soddenly sensual. There were many fat, dark, foreign people, the women in tight light satins and huge hats, the men with heavy eyes and heads