Blair interrupted and said: “Oh, I’ll see him; I’ll make it all right.”
“Please don’t,” she said briskly, “it’s purely a business affair. How much will she pay?”
Dan was rather shocked. “Anything you like.”
And her bad humor faded at his tone, and she smiled at him. “Well, I’ll tell Roach that. I guess it’ll make my singing a sure thing.”
She changed her position and drew a long sigh as though she were very tired, leaned her blond head with its soft disorder back on the pillow, put both her folded hands under her cheek and turned her face toward Dan. The most delicate coral-like color began to mount her cheeks, and her gray eyes regained their light.
“Will two thousand dollars be too much to ask?” she said gently.
If she had said two million to the young fellow who had not yet begun to spend his fortune, which as far as he was concerned was nothing but a name, it would not have been too much to him; not too much to have given to this small white creature with her lovely flushed face, and her glorious hair.
“Whatever is your price, Miss Lane, goes.”
“I’ll sing three songs: one from Mandalay, an English ballad and something or other, I don’t know what now, and I expect you don’t realize how cheaply you are getting them.” She laughed, and began to hum a familiar air.
“I wish you would sing just one song for me.”