"I believe you now," he said, staring at her. "I wish to offer you in
behalf of the Company--"
A swift gesture conjured him to silence. She rose, listening intently.
Presently his ears too caught the faint sound, and he turned and
walked swiftly and silently to the open window.
"There is your extra," she said pleasantly. "The Empress of Borneo
has been reported."
* * * * *
She was still lying on the couch beside the crystal, idly watching
what scenes were drifting, mist-like, through its depths--scenes
vague, and faded in colour, and of indefinite outline; for, like the
monotone of a half-heard conversation which does not concern a
listener these passing phantoms concerned not her.
Under her indifferent eyes they moved; pale-tinted scenes grew, waxed,
and waned, and a ghostly processional flowed through them without end
under her dark blue dreaming eyes.
She had turned and dropped her head back upon the silken pillows when
his signal sounded in telegraphic sequence on the tiny concealed bell.
The still air of the room was yet tremulous with the silvery vibration
when he entered, looked around, caught sight of her, and came swiftly
toward her.
She looked up at him in her sweet, idly humorous way, unstirring.
"This is becoming a habit with you, Clive."
"Didn't you care to see me this afternoon?" he asked so seriously that
the girl laughed outright and stretched out one hand to him.
"Clive, you're becoming ponderous! Do you know it? Suppose I didn't
care to see you this particular afternoon. Is there any reason why you
should take it so seriously?"
"Plenty of reasons," he said, saluting her smooth, cool hand,--"with
all these people at your heels every minute--"
"Please don't pretend--"
"I'm not jealous. But all these men--Cecil and Jimmy Allys--they're
beginning to be a trifle annoying to me."
She laughed in unfeigned and malicious delight: "They don't annoy me! No girl ever was annoyed by overattention from
her suitors--except Penelope--and I don't believe she had such a
horrid time of it either, until her husband came home and shot up the
whole the dansant."
He was still standing beside her couch without offering to seat
himself; and she let him remain standing a few minutes longer before
she condescended to move aside on her pillows and nod a tardy
invitation.
"Has it been an interesting day, Clive?"
"Rather."
"And you have really gone back into business again?"
"Yes."
"And will the real estate market rally at the news of your august
reappearance?" she inquired mischievously.