“Lewd creature!”
“Apropos of that, as Lord Dundreary would remark, have you seen Anne lately, Petrovskey?” Gerald’s drawl drove the blood into Alexis’ face.
He saw Ellen’s eyes encounter Gerald’s with a significant smile.
“I have not seen Mrs. Schuyler,” Alexis emphasized the prefix, “for at least a week. You see, my doctor recommended country air and quiet. So I’m following his orders. And incidentally, preparing for my recital in January.” He strolled over to Ellen and seated himself on a carved stool at her side.
“But how did you happen to be out in these wilds, in this wintry weather?” His eyes probed her ironically.
Her poise remained unshaken.
“Well, you see, we were all dining with some friends in Glen Cove. Fortunately, it was Sunday night and Olive and I were free. We passed right by here on the way. You know the rest.” She smiled challengingly into his angry eyes.
“You must be tired,” he said, forcing himself to be courteous. He rose and pulled the crimson bell-rope. “What will you have? Cocktails or whisky and soda?”
“Whisky and soda. That’ll suit us all right, won’t it, children?”
They all agreed except Caldenas, who demanded cognac.