Mrs. Sin was well known in certain
Bohemian quarters, but was always spoken of as one speaks of a pet
vice. Not to know Mrs. Sin was to be outside the magic circle which
embraced the exclusively smart people who practiced the latest
absurdities.
The so-called artistic temperament is compounded of great strength and
great weakness; its virtues are whiter than those of ordinary people
and its vices blacker. For such a personality Mrs. Sin embodied the
idea of secret pleasure. Her bold good looks repelled Rita, but the
knowledge in her dark eyes was alluring.
"I arrange for you for Saturday night," she said. "Cy Kilfane is
coming with Mollie, and you bring--"
"Oh," replied Rita hesitatingly, "I am sorry you have gone to so much
trouble."
"No trouble, my dear," Mrs. Sin assured her. "Just a little matter of
business, and you can pay the bill when it suits you."
"I am frightfully excited!" cried Mollie Gretna. "It is so nice of you
to have asked me to join your party. Of course Cy goes practically
every week, but I have always wanted another girl to go with. Oh, I
shall be in a perfectly delicious panic when I find myself all among
funny Chinamen and things! I think there is something so magnificently
wicked-looking about a pigtail--and the very name of Limehouse thrills
me to the soul!"
That fixity of purpose which had enabled Rita to avoid the cunning
snares set for her feet and to snatch triumph from the very cauldron
of shame without burning her fingers availed her not at all in dealing
with Mrs.
Pages:
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158