Page:The woman, the man, and the monster (IA womanmanmonster00dawe).pdf/251

 of devil. A bit wild, eh?” Vermont nodded. ““Mad Brenton’ it was in the old days.” He smiled. “Oh, I know. Madder Brenton it ought to be now. But what can one expect whose grandfather died a raving lunatic? You didn’t know that, Vermont? Didn’t you fag for me at Eton?’

“ess

“Was I very hot?”

“T’ve forgotten.”

He smiled, but this time as if memory awakened that smile.

“And so you’re married?”

“Ts there anything surprising in that?”

“None at all, my dear fellow. Men will do these things. But where is madam? Am I to be permitted the honour of a presentation?”

“She may return at any moment.” Indeed, he was then much concerned as to Andromeda. If she were to wake what would she think of his prolonged absence? “But you, are you also married?”

He did not know why he asked the question, for he was not in the least interested. Perhaps it was by way of making conversation, or turning the talk from Andromeda. ‘The result,

2387