“Certainly you are, you silly boy. For my part, I feel quite confident the necklace will be returned.”
He stared. “Why?”
She opened her hands expressively. “I’ve always been lucky.... Besides, if I never see it again, it’ll come back to me this way or that—in advertising, for one.”
“Isn’t that dodge pretty well worked out with the newspapers? It seems to me that it has come to that, of late; or else the prime donne have taken to guarding their valuables with greater care.”
“Oh, that makes no difference. With another woman it might, but I”—she shrugged—“I’m Alison Landis, if you please. The papers won’t neglect me. Besides, Max can do much as he likes with them.”
“Have you—?”
“Of course—by wireless, first thing this morning.”
“But you promised—”
“Don’t be tiresome, Staff. I bought this necklace on Max’s suggestion, as an advertisement—I meant to wear it in A Single Woman; that alone would help make our play a go. Since I can’t get my advertising and have my necklace, too, why, in goodness’ name, mayn’t I get what I can out of it?”
“Oh, well ...”