When  Valerie  arrived  she  found  silver,  crystal,  and
snowy    linen     awaiting    her    M'ith     chilled     grapefruit,

84


THE    COMMON   LAW


African  melon,  fragrant  coffee,  toast,  and  pigeon's
eggs  poached  on  Astrakan  caviar.
"  Oh,  Louis !  "  she  exclaimed,  enraptured ;  "  I  don't
deserve  this — but  it  is  perfectly  dear  of  you — and  I
am  hungrj' !  .  .  .  Good-morning,"  she  added,  shyly  ex-
tending a  fresh  cool  hand ;  "  I  am  really  none  the  v.'orse
for  wear  you  see."

That  was  plain  enough.  In  her  fresh  and  youthful
beauty  the  onl}^  sign  of  the  night's  unwisdom  was  in
the  scarcely  perceptible  violet  tint  under  her  thick
lashes.  Her  skin  was  clear  and  white  and  dewy  fresh,
her  dark  eyes  unwearied — her  gracefully  slender  pres-
ence fairlj'^  fragrant  with  health  and  vigour.
She  seated  herself — offered  to  share  with  him  in
dumb  appeal,  urged  him  in  delicious  pantomime,  and
smiled  encouragingly  as  he  reluctantly  found  a  chair
beside  her  and  divided  the  magnificent  melon.
"  Did  you  have  a  good  time  ?  "  he  asked,  trying
not  to  spealv  ungraciously.
"  V-yes.   ...  It  was  a  silly  sort  of  a  time."

"Siliy.?"

"  I  was  rather   sentimental — with  Querida."

He  said  nothing — grimly.
