Before he determined to reply, another friend—or rather acquaintance of the Collis family—came in to see the picture—the slim and pretty Countess d'Enver. And went quite mad over Valerie—so much so that she remained for an hour talking to her, almost oblivious of Neville and his picture and of Ogilvy and Annan, who consumed time and cocktails in the modest background.
When she finally went away, and Neville had returned from putting her into her over-elaborate carriage, Ogilvy said:
"Gee, Valerie, you sure did make a hit with the lady. What was she trying to make you do?"
"She asked me to come to a reception of the Five-Minute Club with
Louis," said Valerie, laughing. "What is the Five-Minute Club, Louis?"
"Oh, it's a semi-fashionable, semi-artistic affair—one of the incarnations of the latest group of revolting painters and sculptors and literary people, diluted with a little society and a good deal of near-society."
Later, as they were dining together at Delmonico's, he said:
"Would you care to go, Valerie?"
"Yes—if you think it best for us to accept such invitations together."
"Why not?"
"I don't know…. Considering what we are to become to each other—I thought—perhaps the prejudices of your friends—"