"Let me come sometimes and sit in your garden, may I, Madame?" he said, as if begging for some great boon. "Only"—he lowered his voice—"only till your husband comes back. There is inspiration here!"
Charmian knew he was talking nonsense. Nevertheless she glanced round half in dread of Madame Sennier. The yellow eyes were smiling. The white face looked humorously sarcastic.
"Of course! Whenever you like!" she said lightly.
The monkeylike hands pressed hers more closely.
"The freedom of Africa, you give it me!"
He whisked round, with a sharp and absurd movement, and joined the others.
"She is delicious!" he observed, as they walked away. "But she is very undeveloped. She has certainly never suffered. And no woman can be of much use to an artist unless she has suffered."
"Henriette, have you suffered?" said Mrs. Shiffney, laughing.
"Terribly!" said Jacques Sennier, answering for his wife. "But unfortunately not through me. That is the great flaw in our connection."
He frowned.