After a long silence she sat up abruptly on the sofa and looked at
Valerie.
"You asked me who was the first man for whom I posed. I'll tell you if you wish to know. It was Penrhyn Cardemon!… And I was eighteen years old."
Valerie dropped her book in astonishment.
"Penrhyn Cardemon!" she repeated. "Why, he isn't an artist!"
"He has a studio."
"Where?"
"On Fifth Avenue."
"What does he do there?"
"Deviltry."
Valerie's face was blank; Rita sat sullenly cradling one knee in her arms, looking at the floor, her soft, gold hair hanging over her face and forehead so that it shadowed her face.