It
may be, however that Madame X was fully aware of her beauty, but she was
modest about it, or seemed to be; which amounts to the same thing.
They sat down at a remote table and Harleston ordered two cold
drinks--an apollinaris with a dash of lemon for her, a Jerry Hill for
himself. He noticed that the men were looking and wavering and he
deliberately turned his chair around and gave them his back. He had no
objection to presenting the Lady of Peacock Alley to his men friends,
but just at this time it was not convenient. The adventure was rather
unusual, and the lady altogether attractive and somewhat fascinating; he
chose, for the present at least, to go it alone. Moreover, they were to
meet on a matter of her business and by her appointment.
He had suggested the _dansant_ that he might study her. And the more he
saw of her, the more he was struck by her unaffected naturalness and
apparent sincerity. Not a word, not even a suggestion while they were
dancing, of the matter of the cab; it was as though she were just an old
friend. And her dancing was a delight--such a delight, indeed, that he
was reluctant to have it end. Somehow, one gets to know quickly one's
partner in the _dansant_.
"This is perfectly entrancing, Mr.
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