Jimmy was slightly bored. It was no novelty to him. He had spent so many nights dining and supping in similar places to Marnio"s. All the waiters knew him. He wondered if they were surprised to see him without Cynthia Farrow. For weeks past he and she had been everywhere together. He met Sangster"s quizzical eyes; he roused himself with an effort; he turned to Christine and began to talk.
He told her who some of the people were at the other tables. He pointed out a famous conductor, and London"s most popular comedian.
Christine was interested in everyone and everything. Her eyes sparkled, and her usually pale face was flushed. She was pretty to-night, if she had never been pretty before.
"I suppose you come here often?" she said. She looked up into Jimmy"s bored young face. "I suppose it"s not at all new or wonderful to you?"
He smiled.
"Well, I"m afraid it isn"t; you see----" He broke off; he sat staring across the room with a sudden fire in his eyes.
A man and woman had just entered. The woman was in evening dress, with a beautiful sable coat. Her hand was resting on the man"s arm. She was looking up at him with smiling eyes.
Jimmy caught his breath hard in his throat. For a moment the gaily lit room swam before him--for the woman was Cynthia Farrow, and the man at her side was Henson Mortlake.
CHAPTER VI
JIMMY DEMANDS THE TRUTH
Sangster had been sitting with his back to the door by which Cynthia and her escort had entered. When he saw the sudden change in Jimmy Challoner"s face, he turned in his chair quickly.
Cynthia was seated now. She was languidly drawing off her long white gloves. A waiter had taken her sable coat; without it the elaborate frock she wore looked too showy; it was cut too low in the neck. A diamond necklace glittered on her white throat.
Sangster turned back again. Under cover of the table he gave Jimmy a kick. He saw that Christine had noticed the sudden change in his face.
To hide his friend"s discomfort he rushed into speech. He tried to distract the girl"s attention; presently Jimmy recovered himself.
Mrs. Wyatt alone had not been conscious of any disturbing element.
She had lived all her life in the country, and her few visits to London had been exceedingly brief, and always conducted on the most severe of lines--a dull, highly respectable hotel to stay in, stalls for plays against which no single newspaper had raised a dissentient voice, and perhaps a visit to a museum or picture gallery.
It had only been under protest that she had consented to visit the suburban theatre at which Cynthia Farrow was playing.
Under the guidance of Jimmy Challoner, London had suddenly been presented to her in an entirely fresh light. Secretly she was thoroughly enjoying herself, though once or twice she looked at Christine with rather wistful eyes.
Christine was so wrapped up in Jimmy . . . and Jimmy!--of course, he must know many, many other women far more attractive and beautiful than this little daughter of hers. She half sighed as she caught the expression of Christine"s eyes as they rested on him.
Suddenly Jimmy rose.
"Will you excuse me a moment? . . . There is a friend of mine over there. . . . Please excuse me."
Sangster scowled. He thought Jimmy was behaving like a weak fool. He would have stopped him had it been at all possible; but Jimmy had already left the table and crossed to where Cynthia was sitting.
The sight of her in Mortlake"s company for the second time that day had scattered his fine resolutions to the winds. There was a raging fire of jealousy in his heart as he went up to her.
A waiter was filling her gla.s.s with champagne, Mortlake was whispering to her confidentially across the corner of the table.
"Good evening," said Jimmy Challoner.
He did his best to control his voice, but in spite of himself a little thrill of rage vibrated through it.
Mortlake raised himself and half frowned.
"Evening," he said shortly.
Cynthia extended her hand; she was rather pleased than otherwise to see him. She liked having two strings to her bow; it gave her worldly heart an odd little pang as she met the fierceness of Jimmy"s eyes. . . . He was such a dear, she thought.
Marnio"s was not a place where he could make a scene either, even supposing . . . she shot a quick glance at Mortlake. After all, it was rather unfortunate Jimmy should have seen them together--just at present, at any rate; it would not have mattered in a week or two"s time. She wondered if he had heard anything, if already he had discovered by some unforeseen means how she had lied to him? . . . She gave him one of the sweetest smiles.
"Are you having supper here, Jimmy? I didn"t see you."
It was not the truth. She had seen him the moment she entered, but she thought it more effective to pretend otherwise.
"I am over there with friends," said Jimmy curtly. He glanced across to the table he had just left, and met Christine"s eyes.
Somehow he felt uncomfortable. He looked sharply away again, and down at the beautiful smiling face raised to his.
"When may I come and see you?" he asked bluntly.
He spoke quite distinctly; Mortlake must have heard every word.
Cynthia looked nonplussed for a moment; then she laughed.
"Come any time you like, my dear boy. . . . I am always pleased to see you--any afternoon, you know."
She smiled and nodded. Jimmy felt that he had been dismissed. After a moment he walked away.
His heart was a dead weight in his breast. He sat down again beside Christine. She turned to him eagerly.
"Wasn"t that Miss Farrow? . . . . Oh, Jimmy, why didn"t you tell me?"
Jimmy drained his winegla.s.s before answering.
"I forgot you were interested; I"m sorry. . . . She isn"t alone, you see, or--or I would introduce her--if you cared for me to, that is."
"I don"t think Miss Wyatt would care for Miss Farrow," said Arthur Sangster quietly.
Jimmy looked furious. Angry words rushed to his lips, but he choked them with an effort.
"Narrow-minded old owl!" he said, half jokingly, half in earnest.
Later, when the two men had left Mrs. Wyatt and Christine at their hotel, and were walking away together, Jimmy burst out savagely:
"What the devil do you mean about Christine not liking Cynthia? . . .
It"s a gross piece of impertinence to say such a thing."
"It"s the truth, all the same," said Sangster imperturbably. "The two girls are as different as chalk from cheese. Miss Wyatt would soon dislike Cynthia--they live in different worlds."