Macheson paused to light a cigarette.
“A row?” he answered. “I don’t see why.”
“You’re a bit catholic in your attentions, you know,” Davenant remarked.
“Why not?” Macheson answered. “Ella is nothing to me. No more are the rest of them. I amuse myself—that’s all.”
Davenant looked as he felt, puzzled.
“Well,” he said. “I’m not sure that Ella sees it in that light.”
“Why shouldn’t she?” Macheson demanded.
“Well, hang it all, you brought her over, didn’t you?” Davenant reminded him.
“She came over as my guest,” Macheson answered. “That is to say, I pay for her whenever she chooses to come out with us, and I pay or shall pay her hotel bill. Beyond that, I imagine that we are both of us free to amuse ourselves as we please.”