“Good for you!” Breen applauded. “There’s nothing like work after all, and we all seem engaged to that lady at present. She’s the best wife in the world.”
Nielsen smiled philosophically, but the tired expression had revisited Carstairs’ face. The trio continued eating their supper, and the conversation strayed to other and less personal topics.
That same evening, Erna was to meet Jimmy Allen. The hero of Landsmann’s was well ahead of their appointment time, for he was strangely excited. He had some news to impart to Erna.
She was ten minutes late. He did not call her attention to the fact, but greeted her boisterously and began: “Gee, Erna! I got great news for you.”
“Have you?” she replied with well feigned indifference.
“What do you think? Nolan’s offered to let us have the rooms free for one month.”
“Did he?”
“Sure! What do you think o’ that? Ain’t he the pippin? Ain’t he the classy guy?”
She did not answer. They were walking slowly. He grabbed her arm. “What’s the matter now?” he demanded.
“Nothin’.”