“Were you aware that I gave you an order?”
The head-waiter became aware of the awesome fact. He departed.
Brandon’s chair fell backward. A wine-glass was dropped with a crash upon the floor beside Mr. Dewson’s table. But the prompting of the ingenious press agent now was unheeded. The novelist strode down the room. One or two of the male visitors half rose. Some of the women began to look frightened.
“Damn your impudence! Release that lady!”
Dewson slipped from his place and joined the interesting group. He placed his hand warningly upon Brandon’s shoulder.
“Don’t lose your wool!” he whispered. “It’s going great!”
Brandon shook him off.
“Do you hear me? Release that lady! Yvette! stand aside, I beg of you! I have something to say to this person!”
La Belle looked from face to face. All was not well here. Only Captain O’Hagan seemed at ease: he should be the star of her guidance!
The head-waiter returning, the Captain assisted mademoiselle to endue her leopard-skin cloak.