‘You aren’t going out?’ he asked.
‘Just a moment. I want to see how it looks.’
He looked at her bare shoulders with a slight frown. ‘Bring the signorina a wrap,’ he said to the servant at the door.
‘I don’t need a wrap,’ said Marcia; ‘it’s a warm night.’
Sybert shook his head with an expression that was familiar.
‘Oh, if you wish to say anything, say it!’ she cried. ‘Only please don’t look at me with that smile. It’s the way you looked the first time I saw you—and I don’t like it.’
‘I have nothing to say. When a young woman threatened with malaria proposes to go out into an Italian night, bare-shouldered, a mere man is left speechless.’
‘Pride would keep me warm.’
‘I haven’t a doubt of it; but in case it should for the moment fail——’ He took the long white cloak from the man’s arm and glanced at it with another expression as he placed it on her shoulders. It was composed mostly of chiffon and lace.
‘All is vanity that comes from a Paris shop!’ laughed Marcia.