“We’re dealing with Christian gentlemen, not devils,” Clementina retorted.
“No, not devils—oh, certainly not devils,” said Quixtus with a chuckling catch in his voice.
Clementina plucked him by the sleeve.
“I can’t stand here all the afternoon arguing with you. Even if you have got it into your head that the man offended you, you did care for him once, and it’s only common charity to go to him now that he’s at the point of death. Are you going or not?”
Quixtus looked helplessly from one woman to the other.
“There’s such a thing as straining quixotism too far, my dear Dr. Quixtus,” said Mrs. Fontaine. “I see no reason why you should go.”
“I’m a decent woman and I see every reason,” said Clementina, infuriated at the other’s intervention. “I’ll see that he goes. I’ll get tickets now from Cook’s and come round to the Continental in a taxi and fetch you.”
Quixtus rose and extended his hand to Clementina.
“I shall go. I promise you,” he said with all his courtliness of manner. “And I shall not trouble you to get my ticket or call for me. Au revoir.”
He accompanied her to the door. On parting he said with a smile;