VI
‘Peggy, darling,’ Gil is said, turning on his boyish charm and leaning across the table to catch her hand, ‘aren’t you get ing a little bored with all this? Wouldn’t you like to come back to my place? We could have much more fun alone together.’
His blonde companion screwed up her eyes to focus the tanned, smiling face that appeared to bob up and down like a toy balloon on a rough sea.
‘I’m having fun right here,’ she announced, in a voice that carried across the restaurant. ‘I don’t want to go to your dreary old place. I’ve been there, and I know what you cal fun. I’m staying right here.
Let’s have some champagne.’
Gillis’s smile became fixed. He glanced a little anxiously at the tables close to his. Some of the diners were looking at Peggy, amused smiles on their faces.
‘I think you’ve drunk enough already, darling,’ he said, keeping his voice low. ‘Come on, Peggy, let’s get out of here.’
‘I don’t want to,’ she said, with drunken obstinacy. ‘I want some champagne. I’m not asking you to pay for it. I’l pay for it myself. I’ve lots and lots of money. Hey, waiter!’ she went on, raising her voice.
‘Where’s the lousy waiter? Waiter!’
Gillis went white with suppressed fury. If there was one thing he hated, it was to be the centre of a scene. People were now staring at him, and some of them were whispering to each other.