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There were people coming to luncheon, and it was just possible that she might be one of them; but if she was not, and if the others came and found such a person there, how truly awful it would be! Thus the footman reflected as he stood in the doorway, listening to Madame Bonanni's voluble French speech. As she paused for a moment, he heard some one on the stairs. It was Mrs. Rushmore herself.
Then she remembered the last hour they had spent together at Madame Bonanni's, and the quiet dignity and courage of his behaviour under circumstances that might almost have driven a sensitive man out of his senses.
Rushmore was not easily startled by the sudden appearance of lions or lionesses and was conscious of being tolerably consecutive in her speech. It was not Madame Bonanni's greatness that had taken her by surprise, but her size and momentum. The prima donna answered in French. 'You understand? Of course! Thank you! Then I will speak in my own language. I will go out to Miss Donne, if you permit.
Madame Bonanni's proceedings had made an impression on her which it would be hard to forget, and she sat silent for a while, not tasting what followed. 'Logotheti, said Madame Bonanni later, with her mouth full of strawberries and cream, 'you must do something for me. 'An investment, dear lady? I suppose you want some of the bonds of the new electric road, don't you?
The paint on Madame Bonanni's face was a thick mask of grease, pigments and powder; the wig was the most evident wig that ever was; the figure seemed of gigantic girth compared with the woman's height, though that was by no means small; the eye lids were positively unwieldy with paint and the lashes looked like very thick black horsehairs stuck in with glue, in rows.
She took hold of it by the back, to bring it forward a little, and the gilt cross-bar came off in her hand. She stuck the piece on again as well as she could, and as she did not like to disturb any of the things she stood still, in the middle of the room, wondering vaguely whether Madame Bonanni's visitors usually sat down, and if so, on what.
It was clear that she had not lost a moment in getting to her meal after the men had left. Margaret was eating too, but though there was fresh colour in her cheeks her eyes had a startled look each time she looked up, as if something very unusual had happened. The servant whispered something in Madame Bonanni's ear.
Those people will not risk their money for your handsome eyes, my dear! And they know their business, don't they, Logotheti? He answered by speaking directly to Margaret. 'I think, he said quietly, 'that you can have confidence in Madame Bonanni's opinion.
Madame Bonanni's hand had disappeared within the furs again, after she had ascertained that the two tears were not going to run down her cheeks. Her large face wore the expression of a coloured sphinx, and there was something Egyptian about the immobility of her eyes and her painted eyebrows. No one could have guessed from her look whether she were going to cry or laugh the next time she spoke.
Ah, my child! she cried, springing up and kissing Lushington on both cheeks with resounding affection. 'What a joy it is to see you! Lushington was rather pale as he laid his hand quietly on Madame Bonanni's. 'I have the pleasure of knowing Miss Donne already, mother, he said steadily, 'but she did not know that I was your son. She is a little surprised.
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