Im sorry to know you feel that way, he said
quietly.
She flushed and turned away, saying curtly: Sit
down, Frank.
Ace, he said coldly from above, I do mean to.
LXXXThe relations between these four people had now been strained tothe
breaking-point. Voussavez quils ne sont pas toujours responsables de leurs actes.
The quarrel in the night-club and itsconsequences seemed fantastic, incredible, like
a nightmare. Surely you dont mean you intend to go throughwith it? Elinor spoke
quietly, pleasantly to the Frenchman.
Youll feel different about all this tomorrow! You
can stay, if you want to, he said indifferently.
Elinor shrieked faintly, and began to laugh. The
door opened and a man entered the room. Get out of here, she said, and began to move
slowly towards him.
He looked at each person in the roomquickly,
sharply, and then said inquiringly:Monsieur Star-WEEK? From that time on, the
conversation proceeded in mutilated Frenchand English. He lifted quiet, wearily
patient eyes and looked at her. Starwick raved on in his high drunken voice. It was
four oclock when they left the place.
His voice trailed off feebly, and hesank down into
a chair, sobbing drunkenly. He seemed unableor unwilling to break the evil
spell.
Why, you idiot, what do you know about pistols or
swords?
Wont you go away, please, and leave him now? A
little cold wateracross your head and shoulders would do you no end of good. She
flushed and turned away, saying curtly: Sit down, Frank.
From that time on, the conversation proceeded in
mutilated Frenchand English. I dont know whether to walk out of here or CRAWL! Dont
you know that people dont act that way anylonger?
Elinor wasjust combing up her hair, Starwick was in
the balcony and had notyet come down.
Starwick said again, with a cold andweary
impassivity. You are our friend now, and you must callus by our names. My name ees
Alec, said the young Frenchman smiling. And she paused, smiling at him with an air
of hopeful finality, asif to say: There! Elinor kept talking as she arranged her
hair, andfrom the balcony Starwick answered her. Wont you go away, please, and leave
him now?
And taking a card from his purse, he wrote the
studio address belowhis name and gave it to the man. The door opened and a man
entered the room.
Oh, Frank, for Gods sake get in the car; youre
making a damnedfool of yourself! Monsieurshall have whatever satisfaction he
desires.
Raising his glass, he said courteously:A votre
santé, messieurs, and drank.