And not one of them realized the outrageous folly of that dinner! There they sat, Miss Cigale, and Geordie, and Nell, who was the girl in the case, in that expensive restaurant, eating all sorts of expensive dishes, and all fancying themselves so businesslike! There was some excuse for Miss Cigale, but Geordie, who was considered a practical and level-headed young man by his business superiors, and Nell, whose employer could not say enough in praise of her good sense and ability—they should have known better.
“He offered the position to me,” Miss Cigale was saying. “He almost begged me to take it. To be his personal assistant in his booking agency for musicians and concert singers, and so on. He said—” An odd change came over her face; she looked for an instant remarkably handsome and dignified.
“He said,” she went on, calmly, “that no one else could handle his clients as I could—no one else would have just the right manner, and the sympathy and understanding of their problems. He always was very flattering, years ago, when I gave my unlucky concert. It’s really a very good position. But I wouldn’t take it then, because I was so sick and tired of jobs that didn’t do the least bit of good to any one except myself. I’m so tired of working just for myself. But now, if we arrange this thing in a really businesslike way, you could take that sweet, tiny house at the end of your mother’s street, Geordie. Nell could stay at home, to look after things, and I’d contribute toward the expenses, of course. It would be very much to my advantage—because then I’d have a home, you see.”
There was a silence.
“Unless I’d be a nuisance?” Miss Cigale remarked.
“You couldn’t be!” cried Nell. “There never was any one so kind and dear!”
“Unless Geordie objects?” said Miss Cigale.
He glanced at her, and then stared. For there was a light of the most charming malice in Miss Cigale’s eyes, and such a significant hint of a smile on her lips. She was laughing at him! She was getting the better of him!
She was giving him a chance to get married in his own, obstinate way, with Nell safely at home, and, in return, she demanded absolute surrender from him. He could have his way—but only if Miss Cigale had her way, and defiantly went out to work every day from under his roof. Could he allow this? He looked at his Nell.
This time Miss Cigale didn’t fail; she triumphed.[Pg 439]