“Oh! I have many friends—real friends,” she said. “But that’s a fine ring you are wearing, booby!”
Volenski felt at this moment that it was of the most vital importance that he should hear something of Grete’s real friends; he must get her to tell him about them; surely the accomplice, the one who was arrested at Oderberg, was one, and, who knows, another might at this moment be actually in possession of the fateful candlesticks!
Taking the ring off his finger he slipped it into Grete’s hand, and said with an effort at cordiality—
“Pray accept it; it will adorn your pretty hand. But do tell me some more about your friends—the real friends that were not young gentlemen?”
“One of them was an actor, and earned quite a lot of money—he used to play all kinds of parts—and, Lord! sometimes now, he makes me laugh with the clever way in which he can disguise his handsome features. Never mind, my pretty one,” she added coaxingly, “you have got a nice little face of your own too, and——”
“Never mind about my face; tell me about his.”
“Now you are angry,” she said with a pout. “I shan’t talk any more about him, though he is a clever chap! I could tell you one or two of his tricks. But there, that’s nothing to do with you.”
Volenski felt the conversation was becoming interesting. He swallowed the last vestige of repulsion he felt for this coarse, now decidedly intoxicated, woman, and pouring her out a large tumblerful of champagne, “Drink this, my girl,” he said, “and tell me some of your friend’s tricks. I should like to hear something that will make me laugh.”
She drank the champagne and said nothing for a few moments, then burst into a loud laugh.
“Ah! but I did the best trick of all to-day; I tricked them all, every one of them; they thought themselves mighty clever they did, but Grete Ottlinger was one too many for them. Booby, don’t look so scared; give me another glass of champagne, and I’ll tell you all about it. Another glass, booby; fill it to the top. I don’t often get champagne; men mostly only give me beer or spirits. You see, I am not so young as I was. But champagne—I love champagne——”