The video-screen hanging on the wall shrilled. He got up from the desk, walked over to press the "On" switch.
The head and shoulders of an attractive female appeared on the screen. Her shoulder length auburn hair framed a face dominated by green eyes and sulky red lips.
"Judy," said Lowndes enthusiastically, "I was just thinking of you."
"Don't 'Judy' me, you beast," she flung back at him.
"Why, sweets, what's wrong?" he asked innocently.
"You know well enough what's wrong," she flared. "I waited for you at the Club last night. But you never showed!" Her temper, clued by her auburn hair, was showing. "And I waited for my birthday present! But I suppose it never occurred to you"—she stressed the you nastily—"that last evening was also my birthday!"
"Sweets, I'm sorry." He sidled away from the green eyes glaring at him and added, "I'll see you tonight at eight-thirty."
She snorted. Then, noticing his furtive movement away from her she yelled, "Harry Lowndes, you come right back here in front of this screen where I can see you. I want to know where you were last night!"
He came back, a sheepish grin spread over his face. "I stopped in at Sliman's," he said.
Her carmined lips tightened. "Sliman's! All right, Harry Lowndes, how much did you lose?"