Читать книгу White Magic. A Novel онлайн

24 страница из 64

He, thinking of his picture, was only half attending to her. “But you’ll marry the man with the money, all right,” said he absently.

She startled. “How did you know?” she demanded. “Have you found out who I am?”

“Certainly. You’re Rix, model to Chang.... No, I was joking. I know only what you told me yesterday—or, rather, what you enabled me to guess.”

“And you approve of my marrying—that way?”

“I’d hardly be guilty of the impertinence of either approving or disapproving.”

“Frankness wouldn’t be impertinence—between you and me. At least, that’s the way I feel about it. Do you really approve of—of marriage for—for other reasons than love?”

“Heartily.”

A long silence. Then she, with an effort: “When I got back home night before last all that happened up there seemed unreal—absolutely unreal—like a dream.”

“Even the biscuit and the chocolate?”

“Even you,” she replied.

Her tone made his wandering attention concentrate, made him glance swiftly at her.

She smiled. “Don’t be alarmed,” said she. “There’s not the slightest cause.”