His manner was noticeably forced and unnatural in its artificial geniality. The man, who had now entered with coffee, brought the tray to him, but instead of taking any he half filled an empty cup with Kümmel and drank it off.
His hurried explanation hardly deceived the two shrewd people at the table, but at least it made it obvious that he wished to be alone with their host.
There was a little desultory conversation over the coffee, in which Llwellyn took a too easy and hilarious part, and then Mrs. Armstrong got up to go.
Schuabe walked with them a little way down the corridor. While he was out of the room, Llwellyn walked unsteadily to a sideboard. With shaking hand he mixed himself a large brandy-and-soda. His shaking hands, the intense greed with which he swallowed the mixture, were horrible in their sensual revelation. The mask of pleasantness had gone; the reserve of good manners disappeared.
He stood there naked, as it were--a vast bulk of a man in deadly fear.
Schuabe came back and closed the door silently. He drew Llwellyn to the old spot, right in the centre of the great room. There was a wild question in his eyes which his lips seemed powerless to utter.
"Gertrude!" gasped the big man. "You know she came back to me. I told you at the club that it was all right between us again?"
An immeasurable relief crossed the Jew's face. He pushed his friend away with a snarl of concentrated disgust.
"You come here," he hissed venomously, "and burst into my rooms to tell me of your petty _amours_. Have I not borne with the story of your lust and degradation enough? You come here as if the--." He stopped suddenly. The words died away on his lips.
Even in his terror and agitation an ugly sneer blazed out upon his face. His nostrils curled with evil laughter. His voice became low and threatening. Something subtly _vulgar_ and _common_ stole into it. It was this last that arrested Schuabe. It was horrible.
"Not quite so fast, my good friend," said Llwellyn. "Wait and hear my story; and, confound you! if you talk to me like that again, I'll kill you! Things are equal now, my Jewish partner--equal between us. If I am in danger, why, so are you; and either you speak civilly or you pay the penalty."