The plateau was ended, and the road went overboard in a long, steep cascade. She pushed out the clutch and coasted. The whir of the engine stopped. The car sailed softly.
He was eager for news of the years between then and now. It was so wonderful that the surly young beginner in vaudeville should have evolved into this orchid of the salons. He was interested in the working of such social machinery. He urged:
“Tell me all about yourself.”
“No, thanks.”
“But what happened to you after I saw you? You don’t remember me, of course.”
“I remember the monkey.”
They both laughed at the unconscious brutality of this. He turned solemn and asked:
“You mean that so many men came back to call on you?”
“No, not so many––too many, but not many. But––well, the monkey was more unusual, I suppose. He traveled with us several weeks. He was very jealous. He had a fight with a big trained dog that I petted once. They nearly killed each other before they could be separated. And such noises as they made! I can hear them yet. The manager of the monkey wanted to marry me. I was unhappy with my team, but I hated that man––he was such a cruel beast with the monkey that supported him. He’d have beaten me, too, I suppose, and made me support him.”