He moved a little away from her. He started to rise. "I really must be going," he said. "I have something to tell the man I'm traveling with before he goes to bed. You didn't know, did you, Sophie, that I'm entering business in America? With Dorning and Son, the art dealers. John Dorning, the head of the concern, is traveling with me."
This seemed to strike her as funny and she burst into a rather vulgar and throaty laugh. He straightened a bit. "Oh, fancy you in business, Rodrigo," she bubbled. "Will you wear a long linen coat and sit upon a high stool? And this Mr. Dorning—is he nice?"
"He is a fine chap—my best friend."
"You must introduce me. And if you're going to his cabin, you might be a gentleman and escort me to mine."
"I had intended to," he said stiffly. He did not like her laughing at him, as if the thought were ridiculous that he should be a success in business.
She took his arm as they walked out into the darkness of the deck, snuggling close to him as the cool, damp air of the sea struck them. They sauntered back toward the stern of the great ship. She was making a special effort to be nice to him, chattering reminiscences of the old days in a low voice, looking up brightly at him in that laughing way of hers. He hardly answered her. When they had reached the taffrail, with the tall canvas-covered hand steering wheel cutting off the view in front and nothing but the creamy wake churned up by the propeller and the darkness in back of them, they stopped as if by mutual consent. She came close to him. Without a word he took her into his arms.
She did not mind that, a moment later, he released her convulsively and seemed almost angry at her. Her flushed face smiled into the darkness. She still had the power to sway him, and she was well pleased with herself.
"You are still the same," she whispered, "But you must be very proper with me the rest of this voyage. Christy thinks he is in love with me, and he is very jealous. I have no intention of losing my job. But in New York we can have good times together. I will give you my address. At first I shall live in a hotel and later, if the show is a success, in an apartment, where I can entertain my friends."
Rodrigo was already moving away, and she followed him. He was silent, rather chagrined at himself and her. He left her at the door of her stateroom without offering to kiss her again.
Yet the next day at breakfast he was on the lookout for her, in spite of himself. She did not appear, having breakfasted in her stateroom. Later in the morning, walking the deck with John, they were hailed by a gay feminine voice from a steamer chair. They turned, and Rodrigo saw that it was Sophie and sitting next to her was the ruddy Christy. John was introduced. She muttered something to Christy, who shook his head. She sprang up lightly and seized Rodrigo's arm, crying gayly, "I will walk with you, if you don't mind. I need the exercise. There being no taxis to take him, Gilbert says he will, as usual, remain seated." She flipped back her small head in a mock gesture of scorn at the moody Christy.