"My dear Alice," he said, "this thing can't go on. You are making a fool of me and of yourself. The first thing you know your husband will get on to it and there will be the devil to pay!"
"That's right! Make it harder for me," the woman answered. "Why do you always bring my husband into the conversation? You know how it is between us. We haven't lived as man and wife for years. He's never understood me and I can't go on with him any longer. I won't--that's all!"
There was a pause before Will spoke again.
"Come on, don't go on like that; everybody will know what's happened. You'll spoil your eyes."
Another pause. I think these silences were the hardest to bear....
"You had no right to let it go this far if you didn't care," the woman went on resentfully.
"This far? How do you mean? There has been nothing that you need be ashamed of--nothing that you couldn't tell your husband if it came right down to it," answered Will.
The woman laughed angrily. "Is that so? I suppose you count a few motor rides and a few suppers on the side nothing. I suppose you wouldn't mind telling your wife that you had held me in your arms and kissed my eyes and my hair...."
"Good Heavens! neither of us meant anything wrong! We were just carried away for a few minutes--you're a fascinating devil--and the wine helped some.... Now, don't do that, don't do any of that foolish business with me...."
What was she doing, I wondered? Did she intend to kill him or kill herself? I almost started to Will's rescue, then--she laughed.
"Powder your nose and let's go down. Somebody will notice our absence."
Evidently she obeyed, for there was another pause.
"You needn't worry about your wife," she said. "The giant from the West is keeping her busy. Better keep your eye on him."
Will did not reply. My eardrums seemed on the point of bursting from the surging of the blood to my head.
They came out into the corridor. At the head of the steps she stopped.
"I suppose it amuses you to make women love you," she said.
"My dear woman, you don't love me; I don't flatter myself to that extent."
"Kiss me good-night and good-bye," she half whispered.
"This is the last one," he answered, "the last, remember."
There was a stifled cry as she clung to him, and I saw Will release himself and run down the steps. A few minutes later she followed. I found my way down the servants' stairs and entered the dining-room from the butler's pantry. When Will came to look for me I was drinking brandy frappée with the wine merchant.... That night I slept on a couch beside my boy's crib.