CHAPTER IX—SHE ELUDES HIM
They were crossing the hotel foyer, when something caught her attention. Without explanation, she darted from his side. Thinking she had seen a friend, he did not follow at first. She made straight for the news-stand; picking up a magazine, she commenced skimming its pages. He strolled over and peered across her shoulder.
“The Theatre! Something in it that you want? Shall I buy it for you?”
She did not seem to hear him. He touched her hand, repeating his question. For answer she turned back to the cover-design. “Isn’t she wonderful?”
He recognized the stooping face and the vague hypnotic smile that he had seen in the many photographs that decorated the walls of the apartment.
“Don’t know about wonderful,” he said carelessly; “she’s all right.”
“All right!” Desire frowned her restrained annoyance. “No one who knows anything about Fluffy would call her ‘all right.’ She’s wonderful. I adore her.”
He chuckled. He hadn’t wakened to the enormity of his offense. “You’re a curious girl Surely you, of all persons, don’t want me to adore her?”
Her frown did not lighten.