"Then I shall have to take it, of course. Send it to my home, young man," she shrilled to the clerk. "You know the address."
Having concluded the business of the vase, she seemed loathe to depart from this very interesting-looking new find—an Italian Count, no less! John had moved away, and she kept chattering on to Rodrigo in her peculiarly irritating, metallic voice, bent upon leading the conversation into more personal channels. Rodrigo, who didn't mind for that moment being bored, led her on gently. It was fifteen minutes before she glanced at the large diamond-and-platinum watch upon her ample wrist and exclaimed in shocked surprise. "My goodness, I'm due at Pierre's for lunch this instant. I hope I may have the pleasure of entertaining you soon at my home, Count Torriani. I have one of the finest art collections in New York, and I think you'll be interested in seeing it."
He accompanied her politely to the door and assured her that he looked forward with eager anticipation to any invitations she might be kind enough to extend to him.
John congratulated him dryly when they were together again. "You have made your first sale, Rodrigo," he rallied his friend, "and to one of our best and most difficult customers. I feel that you are going to be a great success."
Rodrigo, happening to look in the direction of John's office, saw Mary Drake, having donned a plain but attractive hat and severely cut tailored coat over her navy blue business suit, advance toward the door on her way to luncheon. She smiled at John. For Rodrigo she had a friendly but reserved nod. He wondered if he really was going to prove a great success with the particular part of Dorning and Son that was Mary Drake.
CHAPTER VI
The next few weeks were probably the most tranquil Rodrigo Torriani had ever known. To his own surprise, he enjoyed them. His liking for John Dorning deepened as he saw in what general admiration for his character and respect for his business ability his friend was held. In their private lives together, John displayed a simple unselfishness, a personal attractiveness, and an even temper that bound Rodrigo, who was used to far different associates, ever closer to him.
The Italian was given the center office, the one formerly occupied by John Dorning's father. To John's concealed amusement, Rodrigo thereupon hired the homeliest and oldest stenographer who answered his advertisement for an assistant. As the new executive's familiarity with the routine of Dorning and Son increased, he was given more and more important duties. At the end of the third week, he was dispatched to Philadelphia to conclude the sale of some pieces of Italian pottery to a rich private collector. It was in the nature of a try-out. Rodrigo's success there was rapid and complete. He was as elated as a schoolboy upon his return, and John no less so. Even Mary Drake, who was present when Rodrigo invaded Dorning's office and related the news, smiled with genuine pleasure and congratulated him.
Mary was gradually changing her mind about the newcomer. If the truth be known, her coldness at first meeting him had had an element of the defensive about it. He was far different from the men she usually encountered in the bustling world she had created for herself. In spite of herself, he, from the start, stirred something warm and vibrant within her. She did not like it, was afraid. She wanted to be free from everything of a personal nature that interfered with her making a living for herself and her mother, whom she loved passionately. Now that Rodrigo was attending strictly to business and avoiding any mention of the personal in his necessary daily dealings with her, she was more friendly with him. She was not sure but that, if he would ask her to go to the theatre with him now, she would accept.