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You'll have to grow observant: observation is an excellent quality in a servant. Wheat you come into a room in future, look first of all at me and take your cue from that. Remember that serving a man with nerves is like serving two masters. Now you can go; and tell Mrs. Chilcote's maid that I shall be quite ready at a quarter-past ten." "Yes, sir. And after that?" "Nothing further.
Her instant and uninterested acceptance of him almost nettled him; his own half-contemptuous impression of Chilcote came to him unpleasantly, and with it the first desire to assert his own individuality. Stung by the conflicting emotions, he felt in Chilcote's pockets for something to smoke. Eve saw and interpreted the action. "Are these your cigarettes?"
"You sarcastic people give very shrewd suggestions sometimes, and I've been rather wanting a suggestion on an an adventure that I've had." She looked down at her flowers with a charmingly attentive air. But Chilcote's restlessness had increased. Looking up, she suddenly caught the expression, and her own face changed. "My dear Jack," she said, softly, "what a bore I am!
But I'll say just one thing a thing that will get said. Try and keep your hold! Remember your responsibilities and keep your hold!" He spoke energetically, looking earnestly into Chilcote's eyes. He did not realize it, but he was pleading for his own career. Chilcote paled a little, as he always did in face of a reality. Then he extended his hand.
"Don't you think we might shove that aside?" he asked. But Chilcote's gaze had wandered from his face and strayed to the dressing-table; there it moved feverishly from one object to another. "Loder," he exclaimed, "do you see can you see if there's a tube of tabloids on the mantel-shelf or on the dressing-table?"
Passing through the enthusiastic concourse of men, they came unexpectedly upon Fraide and Lady Sarah surrounded by a group of friends. The old statesman came forward instantly, and, taking Loder's arm, walked with him to Chilcote's waiting brougham. He said little as they slowly made their way to the carriage, but the pressure of his fingers was tense and an unwonted color showed in his face.
Lillian smiled. He colored quickly. "You doubt me?" he asked. "My dear Jack!" Her voice was delicately reproachful. "Then you think that my my imagination has been playing me tricks?" "My dear boy! Nothing of the kind. Come back to your place and tell me the whole tale?" She smiled again, and patted the couch invitingly. But Chilcote's balance had been upset.
The remembrance of Chilcote's epithets "cold" and "unsympathetic" came back to him with something like astonishment. He felt no uncertainty, no dread of discovery and humiliation in her presence as he had felt in the maid's; yet there was something in her face that made him infinitely more uncomfortable.
Gaining the landing, he did not turn as usual to the door that shut off Chilcote's rooms, but moved onward down the corridor towards Eve's private sitting-room. He moved slowly till the door was reached; then he, paused and lifted his hand.
He pulled out his watch Chilcote's watch he realized, with a touch of grim humor as he stooped to examine the dial by the light of the fire; then, as if the humor had verged to another feeling, he stood straight again and felt for the electric button in the wall. His fingers touched it, and simultaneously the room was lighted. The abrupt alteration from shadow to light came almost as a shock.
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