CHAPTER IV
“NOT SATISFIED”
As Claudia was waiting for the lift in their block of flats half an hour later Fritz Neeburg came running down the stairs.
“Ah! Mrs. Currey, you’re back early from your dinner-party.” Claudia was a little impatient of Fritz Neeburg because of a certain German stolidity and lack of imagination, but he was what she called “a learned beast,” and a very loyal and kindly friend to both of them. He had lately given up practising as a medical man and devoted himself to research work in connection with nervous troubles affecting the brain.
“Dinner-parties have such a family resemblance, haven’t they? I was bored.”
He nodded, noting the brilliancy of her eyes and wondering what had caused the excitement in their depths. She looked more highly strung than usual to-night, but it seemed a happy excitement. It might have been the anticipative joy of a woman going to her lover.
“Gilbert and I had some dinner—rather late—and we’ve been yarning ever since.”
Claudia raised her eyebrows. “I thought Gilbert was detained at his chambers.”
Neeburg caught a glint in her eyes that made him apprehensive that he had said the wrong thing. “Oh!” he added hastily, “it was nearly nine before he rang me up. As it happened I was also late and hadn’t fed.”