Few men were proof against the
seductive Mrs. Monte Irvin, not because she designedly encouraged
admiration, but because she was one of those fortunately rare
characters who inspire it without conscious effort. Her appeal to men
was sweetly feminine and quite lacking in that self-assertive and
masculine "take me or leave me" attitude which characterizes some of
the beauties of today. There was nothing abstract about her delicate
loveliness, yet her charm was not wholly physical. Many women disliked
her.
At dance, theatre, and concert Quentin Gray played the doting
cavalier; and Rita, who was used to at least one such adoring
attendant, accepted his homage without demur. Monte Irvin returned to
civil life, but Rita showed no disposition to dispense with her new
admirer. Both Gray and Sir Lucien had become frequent visitors at
Prince's Gate, and Irvin, who understood his wife's character up to a
point, made them his friends.
Shortly after Monte Irvin's return Sir Lucien taxed Rita again with
her increasing subjection to drugs. She was in a particularly gay
humor, as the supplies from Kazmah had been regular, and she
laughingly fenced with him when he reminded her of her declared
intention to reform when her husband should return.
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