"
Mrs. Spencer arose. "The mere mention of graft puts me to instant
flight," she remarked.
"And naturally even the suggestion of a crime is equally repugnant to
you," Mrs. Clephane observed.
"'As a general proposition,'" Mrs. Spencer quoted.
"And general propositions are best proved by exceptions, _n'est-ce
pas_?" was the quick yet drawling answer.
The two women's eyes met.
"I trust, Mrs. Clephane, we shall meet again and soon," Mrs. Spencer
replied, extending her hand.
"Thank you so much," was Mrs. Clephane's answer.
Mrs. Spencer turned to Harleston with a perfectly entrancing smile.
"Good-night, Guy," she murmured.--"No, sir, not a foot; I'm going up to
my apartment."
"Then we will convoy you to the elevator. Come, Mr. Harleston."
"It is only a step," Mrs. Spencer protested.
"Nevertheless," said Mrs. Clephane, "we shall not permit you to brave
alone this Peacock Alley and its heedless crowd."
And putting her arm intimately through Mrs. Spencer's she went on: with
Harleston trailing in the rear and chuckling with suppressed glee. It
was not often that Madeline Spencer met her match!
When the car shot upward with Mrs. Spencer, Harleston gave a quiet laugh
of satisfaction.
"Now shall we go in to dinner?" he asked.
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