"We are," she said.
He shook his head.
"Not real friends."
"Oh, we are all right."
"D'you hate him still?"
"He don't like me," she answered, evasively.
"Yet he invites you here," Julian said. "Why does he do that?"
"I dunno," Cuckoo said.
She wondered why. Not so the doctor, to whom it had become evident that Valentine had asked his guests out of vanity, and with a view to some peculiar and monstrous display of his power over Julian. While Cuckoo and Julian talked together on the divan Valentine came over to the doctor. His eyes still held an expression of awe created in him by the strange new glance of the lady of the feathers. He sought to conquer this sensation of awe, which fought fiercely against his intended blatant triumph of to-night.
"Your cigarette all right, doctor?" he said, in a quick voice.