"You are just ready for your dessert, I see," said Alicia. "I am going to ask the head waiter to change us both to one of the private rooms and give us Simpson to wait on us. Then I can present you to my friends, and we can have the private talk I spoke of. You don't mind, do you?"
Merriam thought of the "Follies." But the idea of the "Follies" bored him after seeing Mollie June. And one cannot refuse a lady. He recaptured some fraction of his manners.
"I shall be pleased," he said.
"Thank you," said Alicia, with augmented sweetness.
CHAPTER IV
AN UNSCRUPULOUS REFORMER
The head waiter arrived. Could they be removed to a private dining-room? Most certainly they could. Yes, Simpson should serve them. Obviously anything that Miss Alicia Wayward desired could be done, must be done, and it was done.
They ordered ices and café noir.
"And a liqueur?" suggested Alicia.
Merriam assented.