His
earlier intentions she had not forgotten, but she had long ago
forgiven them, and now she often felt sorry for this man whom she had
deliberately used as a stepping-stone to fortune.
Gray was quite unable to conceal his jealousy. He seemed to think that
he had a proprietary right to Mrs. Monte Irvin's society, and during
the week preceding Sir Lucien's departure Gray came perilously near to
making himself ridiculous on more than one occasion.
One night, on leaving a theatre, Rita suggested to Pyne that they
should proceed to a supper club for an hour. "It will be like old
times," she said.
"But your husband is expecting you," protested Sir Lucien.
"Let's ring him up and ask him to join us. He won't, but he cannot
very well object then."
As a result they presently found themselves descending a broad
carpeted stairway. From the rooms below arose the strains of an
American melody. Dancing was in progress, or, rather, one of those
orgiastic ceremonies which passed for dancing during this pagan
period. Just by the foot of the stairs they paused and surveyed the
scene.
"Why," said Rita, "there is Quentin--glaring insanely, silly boy."
"Do you see whom he is with?" asked Sir Lucien.
"Mollie Gretna.
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