"Leith Pierrepont, by all that's wonderful, and so soon!" she cried. "Show him in, Marie!"
But almost before the order had been given a young man entered the room. He was tall, singularly handsome, with the bearing of a West Pointer. His eyes were a deep, luminous gray, shaded by lashes and brows that were black. His hair was also black, with a suggestion of a wave in it that was exceedingly attractive. It was brushed away from a brow as fair and smooth as a girl's, but there was no weakness in the face. Its strength was one of its greatest attractions, but it was not in the least in harmony with the indolence of his movements, the careless, nonchalant grace of his speech.
People said of him that he had never been in a hurry in his life, but certainly no one ever accused him of being slow. He was as picturesque as he was handsome, with a slow, rare smile that women loved.
He extended a large, white hand with artistic, tapering fingers, which closed over Jessica's with a warmth of pressure that was infinitely strength-giving, his eyes lighting with a pleasure he did not hesitate to express.
"Halloo, Leith, old man!" cried Jessica, not loudly, not coarsely, but with a fascinating slanginess of manner that no one under heaven could ever imitate. "Thought you were in the jungles killing tigers. When did you get back, and did you bring me that skin you promised? 'Pon my soul, I'm glad to see you! Heard the news?"
"You always take my breath away, Jessica," he answered, with the irresistible smile spreading over his face. "How do you do, Mrs. Chalmers. What have you been doing to yourself? Time has been going backward, the old traitor. I never saw you looking so well. It isn't fair in the very least, robbing young girls of their rightful prey. Is there any news, Jessica? I haven't heard any in so long that I can scarcely believe it possible."
It was a long speech for him. He did not usually trouble himself to such an extent, and when he had finished he threw himself into a chair as if exhausted.
"News—well, I should say so!" exclaimed Jessica, her brown eyes aglow. "When did you get back?"
"Yesterday."