“Why? Please tell me why?”
“No. You’ve had enough excitement. Tell Selinda to give you a kimono. Then you can lie down in my room if you like. Selinda will call you in plenty of 119 time. And after that I’ll tell you how we’re going to bring your holiday to a gay conclusion.”
She seemed disinclined to stir, curled up there, her eyes brilliant with curiosity, her lips a trifle parted in a happy smile. She lay that way for a few moments, looking up at him, her fingers caressing the locket, then she sat up swiftly.
“Must I take a nap?”
“Certainly.”
She sprang to her feet, flashed past him, and disappeared in the corridor.
“Don’t forget to wake me!” she called back.
“I won’t forget!”
When he heard her voice again, conversing with Selinda, he opened the studio door and went down stairs.
Soane, rather the worse for wear, was at the desk, and, standing beside him, was a one-eyed man carrying two pedlar’s boxes under his arms. They both looked around quickly when Barres appeared. Before he reached the desk the one-eyed man turned and walked out hastily into the street.