The Essential W. Somerset Maugham Collection. W. Somerset Maugham

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      'Why on earth should I believe the unsupported words of a subordinate who was dismissed for misbehaviour?'

      'For my part, I can only say that I never read anything more convincing in my life.'

      'I could hardly believe him guilty of such a crime if he confessed it with his own lips.'

      Bobbie shrugged his shoulders. It was only with difficulty that he held back the cruel words that were on his lips. But as if Lucy read his thoughts, her cheeks flushed.

      'I think it's infamous that you should all be ready to believe the worst,' she said hotly, in a low voice that trembled with indignant anger. 'You're all of you so petty, so mean, that you welcome the chance of spattering with mud a man who is so infinitely above you. You've not given him a chance to defend himself.'

      Bobbie turned very pale. Lucy had never spoken to him in such a way before, and wrath flamed up in his heart, wrath mixed with hopeless love. He paused for a moment to command himself.

      'You don't know apparently that interviewers went to him from the evening papers, and he refused to speak.'

      'He has never consented to be interviewed. Why should you expect him now to break his rule?'

      Bobbie was about to answer, when a sudden look of dismay on Lady Kelsey's face stopped him. He turned round and saw MacKenzie standing at the door. He came forward with a smile, holding out his hand, and addressed himself to Lady Kelsey.

      'I thought I should find you here,' he said.

      He was perfectly collected. He glanced around the room with a smile of quiet amusement. A certain embarrassment seized the little party, and Lady Kelsey, at she shook hands with him, was at a loss for words.

      'How do you do?' she faltered. 'We've just been talking of you.'

      'Really?'

      The twinkle in his eyes caused her to lose the remainder of her self-possession, and she turned scarlet.

      'It's so late, we were afraid you wouldn't come. I should have been dreadfully disappointed.'

      'It's very kind of you to say so. I've been at the _Travellers_, reading various appreciations of my character.'

      A hurried look of alarm crossed Lady Kelsey's good-tempered face.

      'Oh, I heard there was something about you in the papers,' she answered.

      'There's a good deal. I really had no idea the world was so interested in me.'

      'It's charming of you to come here to-night,' the good lady smiled, beginning to feel more at ease. 'I'm sure you hate dances.'

      'Oh, no, they interest me enormously. I remember, an African king once gave a dance in my honour. Four thousand warriors in war-paint. I assure you it was a most impressive sight.'

      'My dear fellow,' Dick chuckled, 'if paint is the attraction, you really need not go much further than Mayfair.'

      The scene amused him. He was deeply interested in Alec's attitude, for he knew him well enough to be convinced that his discreet gaiety was entirely assumed. It was impossible to tell by it what course he meant to adopt; and at the same time there was about him a greater unapproachableness, which warned all and sundry that it would be wiser to attempt no advance. But for his own part he did not care; he meant to have a word with Alec at the first opportunity.

      Alec's quiet eyes now rested on Robert Boulger.

      'Ah, there's my little friend Bobbikins. I thought you had a headache?'

      Lady Kelsey remembered her nephew's broken engagement and interposed quickly.

      'I'm afraid Bobbie is dreadfully dissipated. He's not looking at all well.'

      'You shouldn't keep such late hours,' said Alec, good-humouredly. 'At your age one needs one's beauty sleep.'

      'It's very kind of you to take an interest in me,' said Boulger, flushing with annoyance. 'My headache has passed off.'

      'I'm very glad. What do you use--phenacetin?'

      'It went away of its own accord after dinner,' returned Bobbie frigidly, conscious that he was being laughed at, but unable to extricate himself.

      'So you resolved to give the girls a treat by coming to Lady Kelsey's dance? How nice of you not to disappoint them!'

      Alec turned to Lucy, and they looked into one another's eyes.

      'I sent you a paper this evening,' he said gravely.

      'It was very good of you.'

      There was a silence. All who were present felt that the moment was impressive, and it needed Canon Spratte's determination to allow none but himself to monopolise attention, to bring to an end a situation which might have proved awkward. He came forward and offered his arm to Lucy.

      'I think this is my dance. May I take you in?'

      He was trying to repeat the direct cut which he had given Alec earlier in the day. Alec looked at him.

      'I saw you in Piccadilly this evening. You were dashing about like a young gazelle.'

      'I didn't see you,' said the Canon, frigidly.

      'I observed that you were deeply engrossed in the shop windows as I passed. How are you?'

      He held out his hand. For a moment the Canon hesitated to take it, but Alec's gaze compelled him.

      'How do you do?' he said.

      He felt, rather than heard, Dick's chuckle, and reddening, offered his arm to Lucy.

      'Won't you come, Mr. MacKenzie?' said Lady Kelsey, making the best of her difficulty.

      'If you don't mind, I'll stay and smoke a cigarette with Dick Lomas. You know, I'm not a dancing man.'

      It seemed that Alec was giving Dick the opportunity he sought, and as soon as they found themselves alone, the sprightly little man attacked him.

      'I suppose you know we were all beseeching Providence you'd have the grace to stay away to-night?' he said.

      'I confess that I suspected it,' smiled Alec. 'I shouldn't have come, only I wanted to see Miss Allerton.'

      'This fellow Macinnery proposes to make things rather uncomfortable, I imagine.'

      'I made a mistake, didn't I?' said Alec, with a thin smile. 'I should have dropped him in the river when I had no further use for him.'

      'What are you going to do?'

      'Nothing.'

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