near a slight whine.

"That doesn't mean, my dear husband, that I must have her to luncheon tomorrow."

"Who tho ho ll said anything about luncheon?"

"Please don't swear."

"Well please don't work so hard at being a blasted snob. You don't have to, you know, it's built in."

"If you really wish to spend the evening insulting me Paul, we might as well go home. I'm quite ready in any

case.

Paul exhausted his hands in the air a little. "I don't wish to insult you and I don't wish to go home either. I just want to have a nice evening. And if you could forget for five minutes that old David Whit side almost mado it over on the Mayflower..."

"Really, Paul-!"

"Look, all I want is your permission to ask the manager if Miss Tige would care to join us at our table. It is so simple and it could be interesting. I can't imagine what all the fuss is for."

"I am not making a fuss."

"Then let mo invite her," Paul pleaded, more boyishly than ever. "Sho'll probably refuso anyhow. They say she's very difficult."

Konalia turned her eyes cooly, hardly looking out from under her lids at him. "Good heavens, I've married a celebrity collector!"

"Oh, Konnie!" Paul Heplin sat back thon with disgust and defeat and looked at his wife with total unfriendliness. Then suddenly he sat up and lifted his fingers in the air for the waiter who was there like clockwork.

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