"London, I expect," Céleste answered. "They always do."
The flighty little creature dried her eyes and spread her wings in the sun once more. "Poor old Ern!" she cried. "But there's better fish in the sea than ever came out of it, as the sayin is.... I'm not aimin at meself, mind!" she added coquettishly.
Ernie, if he heard her badinage, ignored it. As always, where his heart was concerned, he struck instantly and without fear.
He walked along the corridor and knocked at Madame's door.
She was, as usual, smoking.
"What is it, Caspar?" she asked kindly.
Ernie came to the point with almost brutal directness.
"Ruth Boam, 'm."
Madame studied her rings.
"She has left—while I was gone away," she said after a pause. "I am sorry. She was nice gurl."