Page:The Breath of Scandal (1922).djvu/238

 for a partner. Clara had hooked up Marjorie's dress, admiringly, and helped her, expertly, with her hair.

"Some hair you have, dearie!" said Clara, with professional admiration. "And some skin!"

Marjorie threw over her shoulders an evening cape, which was one outer garment her father had not missed, and descended with Clara to the hall where her roommate made her known to a dark-haired and large-featured youth of twenty-five, "My friend, Mr. Saltro," and to a taller, partially bald and ascetic-faced man, five years older, "My friend, Mr. Troufrie." Both were in "dress suits."

Mr. Saltro was, by prearrangement, to be Marjorie's partner, but she had supposed that the four of them were to go to the dance hall together and remain a party of four through the occasion. Likely enough Mr. Saltro had expected this but, upon seeing the girl, he was a man able to change his mind. For, though the car which was waiting was perfectly capable of containing four persons, Mr. Saltro held back and detained his partner until Clara and Mr. Troufrie got in; then he closed the door and said to the driver, genially, "You can skip on now!"

Immediately he raised his hand to signal an empty car approaching. "Taxi! Taxi!"

With Clara's car gone, and the other standing, door open, before her, Marjorie made the choice between retreat and getting in.

"Four's all right when the crowd all knows each other," Mr. Saltro uttered approval, as he placed himself on the seat beside Marjorie and the car was in motion. "But for getting acquainted, nothing doing." And he began pulling at the fingers of the new brown glove on his right hand.