“Husband?” asked the other, laconically.
“Not yet,” she answered.
“Oh,” and his eyebrows were lifted a trifle. Then he turned to Bill. “Sit down and have a drink; I want to talk to you.”
Then the fifth bottle was brought on.
He held his brimming glass aloft.
“Wish me luck, old man, for I’m going to take this little girl away from you,” and his blue eyes looked into Bill’s black ones with a steady and disconcerting gaze.
“I guess we’ve got something to say about that,” said Bill, putting his glass down suddenly.
“Not much. You see, I’m going to give you a thousand dollars and that will be your meal ticket until you find a new prima donna.”
“You made a mistake,” said Bill, “you meant $5,000.”
“I agree with you; I did make a mistake; it’s $2,500, and you’d better grab it quick, because it’s easy money and it’s the limit, too.”