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Barney's brief word of acknowledgment showed his resentment of Bulling's tone and his dislike of the man. It angered Barney to observe the familiar, almost confidential, manner of Dr. Bulling with Iola, but it made him more furious to notice that, instead of resenting, Iola seemed to be pleased with his manner. Just now, however, she was giving herself to Barney.
"You have just made an insinuation against the honour of a young lady. I say again you are a mean and cowardly liar. I want you to say so." For a moment or two Bulling's surprise kept him silent. "Quite right," said Trent. "Beastly cad!" Then Dr. Bulling broke forth. "You impertinent young cub! What do you mean?"
The patronage of these people, I mean Dr. Bulling's set, cannot, surely, be necessary to your success. Your great voice needs not their patronage; if so, failure would be better. When I am fit for your presence I shall come to you. Good-bye. It is hard not to see you. Ever yours, "Barney." Alas! for her dreams. How rudely they were dispelled! Alas! for her castle in Spain.
Bulling," said Iola, her voice ringing clear and firm in contrast with Bulling's agitated tone, "he is a friend of mine, a very dear friend, and, I assure you, very sane." As she spoke she waved her hand to Barney, but there was no answering sign. "Your friend, is he?" said Mrs. Duff Charrington. "Then doubtless very sane. Does he want you, Miss Lane? Shall we go back for him?"
Iola recognized Dr. Bulling's words. "Surrendered? Just what, exactly?" "Oh, d-dash it all! You know the big fight that has been going on, the Duff Charringtons backing that little Redd girl." "Oh! So the Duff Charringtons have been backing the little Redd girl? Miss Evelyn Redd, I suppose? It sounds a little like a horse race or a pugilistic encounter." "A horse race!" he exclaimed. "Ha, ha, ha!
For answer, Barney seized Drake's wineglass, half full of wine, and flung glass and contents full in Bulling's face. In an instant every man was on his feet. Above the din rose Foxmore's voice. "Give it to him Bulling! Give it to the young prig!" "No hurry about this, boys," said Bulling quietly; "I'll make him eat his words before he's half an hour older."
Treat's hands and drank it off. "Get me another," he said. "Is he gone?" he repeated, making an effort to rise. "Never mind, Boyle, he's gone." "Wait till another day, Barney," entreated Dick. "Never mind to-night." At this moment the sound of Dr. Bulling's voice, followed by loud laughter, came from the lavatory.
Here was one of Dr. Bulling's friends, one of his toadies and he had a number of them who represented to her all that was most loathsome in her life. The effort to repress her disgust, however, only made her smile the sweeter. Foxmore was greatly encouraged. It was one of his fixed ideas that his manner was irresistible with "the sex."
Oh, it is all horribly loathsome!" For the first time she saw herself from Dr. Bulling's point of view. If she sang in the Philharmonic it would be by virtue of his good offices and by the gracious permission of the Duff Charringtons. That she had the voice for the part and that it was immeasurably better than Evelyn Redd's counted not at all. How mean she felt! And yet she must go on with it.
Even Trent, by no means inexperienced in these matters, was disgusted with Bulling's tone. Following Barney's glances and aware of his wandering attention, he was about to propose a breakup of the party when he was arrested by a look of rigid and eager attention upon the face of his friend. "Disgusting brute!" said Trent, in a low voice. But Barney heeded him not.
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