"Fairy Princess, you are more adorable every minute," he said, thickly. "Yes! A thousand yesses. And I'm your little friend, eh? No more slaps, no more mysterious exits, what?"
"That depends upon you."
"I'm behaving finely," he vaunted. "I usually act much worse than I have to-night, but I like you. I like you differently—understand? Not like the other girls. You're so beautiful! Makes me dizzy. You forgive my little joke, eh?"
"What joke?"
"Meeting you the way I did to-night. Jim's nice boy—obliged to him."
"I see. Then it was all planned?"
He nodded vehemently and nearly lost his balance.
"How much—did you pay him?" Lorelei queried, with, difficulty.
Mr. Wharton waved his hand in a magnificent gesture. "What's money, anyhow? Somebody's bound to get it."
"Fifty dollars?"