f.a.n.n.y nodded approval.
"I think myself you"d better stick to Robert," she said.
Folding his arms, the young man faced the two women. Indignantly he cried:
"You two talk as though I was getting my salary out of charity--as though Mr. Stafford was handing me something! Well, I tell you he isn"t. There"s no friendship in business, and if I wasn"t worth a hundred I wouldn"t get it! I"m a valuable man to your husband. I"ve put him onto four or five good things in Wall Street already. Did he tell you about "em?"
"No," said Virginia, shaking her head.
"I did, just the same," he went on exultantly, "and if he followed my advice and played it strong he must have made half a million or so just out of my tips! I"m not conceited--not a bit--but I know what I can do! I know--"
Before he had completed the sentence the telephone rang. Virginia quickly took the receiver. After listening a moment, she said:
"Thank you!" Replacing the instrument, she turned to the others and said quietly:
"Robert has just come in."
Jimmie had still grievances to ventilate. Peevishly he exclaimed:
"There"s another thing. Why shouldn"t I call him Robert the same as you and f.a.n.n.y do?"
"Has he objected?" asked Virginia, a slight smile hovering around her mouth.
"No," he answered; "I never tried it! I feel like a fool, though, at the office. Everybody knows he"s my brother-in-law, and yet I have to call him "Mr. Stafford," just as though he was no relation at all. Do you think he"d mind if I called him Robert?"
"You must be the judge of that," she replied evasively.
Just then there was a rap on the door.
"Come," called out Virginia.
The door opened and Stafford entered.
CHAPTER XIV
As the millionaire advanced into the room it was easy to see that he was not himself. His face was flushed, his eyes brilliant, his gait awkward and uncertain. The bosom of his full dress shirt was rumpled and his white tie awry. He had every appearance of having just come from some midnight orgy, and, like most roysterers who take their wine joyously, he was in the highest spirits. Making with his right arm a wide sweeping gesture meant to include all present in a general salutation, he hiccoughed:
"Ev"ning, everybody!"
He stood still in the centre of the room, maintaining with difficulty the centre of gravitation and grinning upon each in turn.
"Isn"t he jolly to-night?" laughed f.a.n.n.y.
"Got "em again," chuckled Jim in an undertone.
Virginia alone was not amused. Her face turned deathly pale. He had broken his word again. She looked at him, and shuddered. She saw his eyes seek her out and she read there the same expression which had always frightened her and which when he was in that condition meant only one thing. She could not go on living like this. It was unbearable, more than she could endure. It was too humiliating, too degrading. As she stood watching him he advanced clumsily towards her.
Involuntarily she recoiled, but, in a stride, he was beside her and placed one arm round her waist. Kissing her, he hiccoughed:
"h.e.l.lo, honey!" With maudlin admiration he exclaimed: "My, but you look sweet to-night!"
Disgusted, nauseated, Virginia turned her head away from his tainted breath, and tried to disengage herself. But he held her as in a vice.
Turning to Jimmie, he said jocularly:
"Do you--wonder that--I"m in love with her?"
"I should say not," grinned the clerk.
"She"s the prettiest and sweetest girl that ever lived," went on Stafford. He still had one arm round his wife"s waist and, struggling to place his mouth on hers, he insisted: "Kiss me, honey!"
In vain Virginia strove to free herself. She was but a child in his strong arms.
"Robert--Robert--please!" she protested angrily.
He laughed boisterously.
"Oh--go on--you know you love me! Kiss me!"
Reluctantly, realizing it was her only way of escape, she touched his cheek with her cold lips.
"That"s the girl!" he exclaimed, releasing her.
Deathly white and with a set, determined expression on her face, Virginia broke from his embrace and hurried away to join her sister who, dreading a scene, had discreetly withdrawn into the bedroom.
Stafford stood looking after her, a stupid expression on his face as if of mild surprise at her resistance. When she had disappeared, he turned to his employee. For a few moments he did not speak and the younger man was beginning to feel uncomfortable under his close scrutiny when Stafford suddenly blurted out:
"Jimmie!"
"Yes."
"What salary are you getting?"
"A hundred--"
Stafford shook his head. Smiling, he said:
"No, you"re not--you"re getting a hundred and fifty!"
The clerk stared at his employer, not comprehending. What did he mean?
Was this the long expected and hoped for raise in his salary, or was he the victim of a drunken jest?"
"I"m only getting a hundred," he stammered.
Stafford nodded encouragingly. Amiably he said:
"Now you"re getting a hundred and fifty--"