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"It's all very well for those that don't possess any jewelry and don't know the value of it, to talk," she declared, with her eyes fixed upon a black jet ornament which hung from the other woman's neck. "What I say is this, and you may just as well hear it from me now as later. I don't believe this cock-and-bull story of Mr. Tavernake's.
"I know what you are thinking of," the professor interrupted. "Well, well, give me your arm and we will walk down to the hall together. My friends," the professor added, turning round, "I wish you all a good-night!" Then the door was pushed half-way open and Tavernake's heart gave a jump.
Then, with a sigh, she picked up her skirts with her right hand, and took Tavernake's arm. "Do you mind walking home?" she asked. "My head aches." Tavernake looked for a moment wistfully across the road toward the Milan Court. Beatrice's hand, however, only held his arm the tighter.
"Is Miss Tavernake really her name, or an assumed one? I expect it's the same over here as in my country a singer very often sings under another name than her own, you know," he added, noting Tavernake's gathering frown. "The young lady in question is my sister, and I do not care to discuss her with strangers," Tavernake announced. Mr. Pritchard nodded pleasantly.
The practical side of Tavernake's nature was very much to the fore that morning. He began to wonder whether women, after all, strange and fascinating creatures though they were, possessed judgment which could be relied upon whether they were not swayed too much by sentiment. "Beatrice," he said, "you must understand this. I have no time to raise the money elsewhere.
It is better for you that you keep away from over there." He raised one hand and pointed across the street towards the Milan Court; with the other he once more gripped Tavernake's arm. "Why she should take the trouble even to speak with you for a moment, I do not know," the professor continued, "but she does.
It was Tavernake's. "Are you awake?" he asked. "Yes," she answered, "yes, I am awake. Is that Mr. Tavernake? Where am I, please?" "First of all, are you better?" he inquired. "I am better," she assured him, sitting up in bed and pulling the clothes to her chin. "I am quite well now. Tell me at once where I am and what you are doing over there."
In any case, I am going now." The other laid his hand on Tavernake's shoulder. "You'll be soaked to the skin," he protested. "I want you to come into the smoking-room here with me for a few minutes. We will have a drink together and a little conversation, if you don't mind." "But I do mind," Tavernake declared.
You don't fit in anywhere. Take my advice and hook it altogether." Tavernake shook his head. "I can't do that just now," he said. "Good-night! I'm off for the present, at any rate." Pritchard, too, rose to his feet. He passed his arm through Tavernake's. "Young man," he remarked, "there are not many in this country whom I can trust. You're one of them.
"You have, sir," the professor answered. "I did not recognize you when I came in or I would have addressed you personally. I have particular reasons for occupying a front table here every night this week." The thoughts began to crowd in upon Tavernake's brain. He hesitated. "Why not sit down with me?" he suggested. The professor acquiesced without a word.
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