“A glass of tchai,” said Wilfred, smiling.
“By God! I’m sick of this Ten Nights in a Barroom stunt!” said Stanny passionately. “You’re not my keeper!”
“Keep your shirt on,” said Wilfred, smiling still for Mitzi’s benefit. “I don’t aim to be.”
“Then what brought you here?”
“I wanted company,” said Wilfred. It was true, but Stanny would not believe it.
“If I’m going to Hell, I prefer to go in my own way,” said Stanny.
“Sure!” agreed Wilfred. “But I can’t help thinking you’re getting damned little out of this lap.”
“That’s all right!” said Stanny with drunken obstinacy.
“What you say him?” asked Mitzi, without in the least caring what the answer might be.
“I’m telling him I wish you were my sweetheart,” said Wilfred grinning. (How sick he was of his own grin!) “That’s what makes him sore.”