Page:Yellow Claw 1920.djvu/223

 had been an old friend of her companion’s, she should have accepted without demur; but she knew that the acquaintance had commenced in a Continental railway train, and her natural prudence instinctively took up a brief for the prosecution. But Denise Ryland had other views.

“My dear girl,” she said, “you are not going to be so…crack-brained…as to stand here…arguing and contracting…rheumatism, lumbago…and other absurd complaints…when you know perfectly well that we had already arranged to go…to supper!” She turned to the smiling Max. “This girl needs…dragging out of…her morbid self…M. Gaston! We’ll accept…your cab, on the distinct…understanding that you are to accept our invitation…to supper.”

M. Max bowed agreeably.

“By all means let my cab take us to your supper,” he said, laughing.