At lunch next day the strain was awkward. I was in the way. She would have preferred the major alone. She was aiming her charms at him, as though I didn't exist. And, to my amazement, he liked it! He began to repay her in kind, with as fine a skill in flirtation as a soldier can master in long- service, missing mo opportunities.
When I went to dine that evening, only the third night out, our table was set for one. In a corner she had found chairs for two, though the "maitre d'hótel had sworn the quiet nooks were all taken.
From that moment they walked together, they sat in their deck chairs together, they lunched and dined together. When we happened to pass, the major didn't see me.
Bound for the Continent myself, 1 stood near the gang-plank, idly watching the Plymouth passengers gathered in a cluster to leave us, The major and Mme Albenez were wait-arm in arm. At this last moment, I saw how far it had gone with her. She loved him.
Glaneing up he had to acknowledge my presence. I stepped forward. "It was a pleasure to meet you, major—and you madame."
That poisonous glitter came back to her eyes. "It was not a pleasure! You hate me! You told lies!"
When I turned to the major, he drew himself up, "Madame has heard whispers against her, started since we sailed. If you started them, spur time to settle with you before And the other passengers listening! I looked straight at him, and I saw he was mad.
But I had to hit back. "If I knew her as well as you do, I'd surely admire her as much!"
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.