"I am unfortunate." He shrugged and turned away, and Poppy, looking round for the others, caught Clem Portal's face with the mask off for one moment. With that sight her faltering, fainting purpose changed to firm resolution. Softly she called after Abinger, but when he reached her again she seemed breathless.
"I have a dance ... number five—" She held out her card, and while he wrote upon it she spoke again, swiftly and low. The preliminary soft bars of the first waltz were already floating down the room.
"Will you please be where I can see you—and reach you instantly ... if I should want you?"
A slight, bitter smile came to his lips.
"Certainly! The middle of the room would be a good place, I should say."
Her eyes blazed at him for a moment. Then a subtle, alluring look crossed her face, for all her lips were the lips of a ghost. She half whispered to him:
"Do you want me—Luce?"
Her eyes looked into his for one short instant before she veiled them quickly, and her heart seemed to turn over within her, for desire stalked, naked and unashamed, in the eyes of Luce Abinger.
"Do I want you. By God!" he said, under his breath.
"Well—to-night—I think I may come—home," she faltered; then without another word or look she turned away, and took Bramham's arm for the first waltz.