"In '84 wasn't
it? You went out a great deal less next season."
Mrs. Mallowe smiled in a superior and Sphinxlike fashion.
"I became an Influence," said she.
"Good gracious, child, you didn't join the Theosophists and kiss Buddha's big
toe, did you? I tried to get into their set once, but they cast me out for a
skeptic--without a chance of improving my poor little mind, too."
"No, I didn't Theosophilander. Jack says"--
"Never mind Jack. What a husband says is known before. What did you do?"
"I made a lasting impression."
"So have I--for four months. But that didn't console me in the least. I hated
the man. Will you stop smiling in that inscrutable way and tell me what you
mean?"
Mrs. Mallowe told.
* * * * * *
"And--you--mean--to--say that it is absolutely Platonic on both sides?"
"Absolutely, or I should never have taken it up."
"And his last promotion was due to you?"
Mrs. Mallowe nodded.
"And you warned him against the Topsham girl?"
Another nod.
"And told him of Sir Dugald Delane's private memo about him?"
A third nod.
"Why?"
"What a question to ask a woman! Because it amused me at first. I am proud of
my property now. If I live he shall continue to be successful.
Pages:
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370