"
I looked at her quickly and I felt rewarded for all I had gone through.
Her attitude toward me was subtly different. Somehow I felt that I was
being permitted a glimpse of the real Eve. Her eyes were soft; she patted
my hand under the table. I could almost have shaken hands with Mr. Moss!
"What about a music hall afterward?" I proposed in the fullness of my
heart. "Shall I send for stalls at the Alhambra?"
My proposal was received with unanimous approval. Our departure from the
restaurant a few minutes later evoked almost as much comment as our
arrival. Mr. Moss led the way, his hands in his trousers pockets and a
large cigar, pointing toward the ceiling, protruding from the corner of
his mouth. His slight uneasiness with regard to the whereabouts of his hat
having been dispelled by its appearance before we finished our meal, he
placed it on his head at its usual angle before we left the room.
Mr. Parker took his arm as they passed out, and I saw Mr. Cullen's eyes
follow them from behind his newspaper. The two got into a taxi and Eve and
I followed them in another, an arrangement that Mr. Moss appeared to
regard with disfavor. Eve's hand stole into mine as we drove off.
"Do you know," she said seriously, "I think it's perfectly horrid to drag
you about in such company! It's all very well for us, because we belong
and we are in a strange city; but I saw some of your friends look at you
and whisper.
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