How little impression the thing made on Kennedy can be easily seen from the fact that on the way downtown that afternoon he stopped at Martin's, on Fifth Avenue, and bought a ring—a very handsome solitaire, the finest Martin had in the shop.
It must have been about the time that he decided to stop at Martin's that the Dodge butler, Jennings, admitted a young lady who presented a card on which was engraved the name
Miss FLORENCE LEIGH 20 Prospect Avenue.
As he handed Elaine the card, she looked up from the book she was reading and took it.
"I don't know her," she said puckering her pretty brow. "Do you? What does she look like?"
"I never saw her before, Miss Elaine," Jennings shrugged. "But she is very well dressed."
"All right, show her in, Jennings. I'll see her."
Elaine moved into the drawing room, Jennings springing forward to part the portieres for her and passing through the room quickly where Flirty Florrie sat waiting. Flirty Florrie rose and stood gazing at Elaine, apparently very much embarrassed, even after Jennings had gone.
There was a short pause. The woman was the first to speak.
"It IS embarrassing," she said finally, "but, Miss Dodge, I have come to you to beg for my love."