I mastered myself as well as I could and got into my chair—.
And in a few moments Burton brought me a brandy and soda, and put it into my hand.
"It won't be cleared up enough to go back to Versailles before dinner, Sir Nicholas," he said—and coughed—"I was just thinking maybe—you'd be liking some friends to come in and dine—Pierre can get something in from the restaurant, if you'd feel inclined."
The cough meant that Burton knows I am dreadfully upset, and that under the circumstances anything to distract me is the lesser of two evils—!
"Ask whom you please," I answered and drank the brandy and soda down.
Presently, after half an hour, Burton came back to me, beaming—I had been sitting in my chair too exhausted even to feel pain meanwhile—.
He had telephoned everywhere, and no one was in town, but at last, at the Ritz, where the concierge knows all my friends, he had been informed that Mrs. Bruce (Nina) had arrived the night before, alone—he had got connected up at her appartement, and she would be ''round at eight o'clock, very pleased to dine!'
Nina!—A pleasant thrill ran through me—Nina, and without Jim—!
The wood fire was burning brightly, and the curtains were drawn when Nina, fresh as a rose, came in—.
"Nicholas!" she cried delightedly—and held out both hands.