Page:Neith Boyce--The bond.djvu/73

Rh "Oh, well, you can send out for a steak, can't you? And I brought some bully old whisky and cigars."

"That's just like you—you think a steak, whisky, and cigars make a dinner, don't you?" said Teresa mockingly. "Who's the man?"

"Oh, an Englishman I met at the club. I knew him years ago in Cairo, just for a day or so—he's a nice fellow, you'll like him."

"What time is he coming?" enquired Teresa coolly.

"Seven. He's going to the theatre, so I made it early."

"Well, I must interview Mary." Teresa added reluctantly, "Aunt Sophy's here. I asked her to dinner."

It was now Basil's turn to look dashed, and he did so completely.

"Oh, hell!" he remarked, the gaiety of his face quite quenched; "what on earth did you do that for?"

"Why shouldn't I? You said you were going out."

"I said I might go out. … Well, that spoils everything. You can't have any talks with that old bore about. I wish I'd known, I'd have given him dinner at the club. If I had such boring relatives as you've got, I certainly wouldn't have them around."