"What brand
are they?"
"No particular brand. They are imported from Buenos Ayres, I believe."
Willis having brought in a tray of refreshments and departed again,
Sir Lucien came at once to the point.
"I really called, Gray," he said, "to clear up any misunderstanding
there may be in regard to Rita Irvin."
Quentin Gray looked up suddenly when he heard Rita's name, and:
"What misunderstanding?" he asked.
"Regarding the nature of my friendship with her," answered Sir Lucien
coolly. "Now, I am going to speak quite bluntly, Gray, because I like
Rita and I respect her. I also like and respect Monte Irvin; and I
don't want you, or anybody else, to think that Rita and I are, or ever
have been, anything more than pals. I have known her long enough to
have learned that she sails straight, and has always sailed straight.
Now--listen, Gray, please. You embarrassed me tonight, old chap, and
you embarrassed Rita. It was unnecessary." He paused, and then added
slowly: "She is as sacred to me, Gray, as she is to you--and we are
both friends of Monte Irvin."
For a moment Quentin Gray's fiery temper flickered up, as his
heightened color showed, but the coolness of the older and cleverer
man prevailed. Gray laughed, stood up, and held out his hand.
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