He
remained silent, thinking. Then, switching off and becoming cold, he
asked, in a voice full of considerate kindness:
'Is there anything we can eat here? Is there anything you would like?'
'Yes,' she said, 'I should adore some oysters.'
'All right,' he said. 'We'll have oysters.' And he beckoned to the
waiter.
Halliday took no notice, until the little plate was set before her.
Then suddenly he cried:
'Pussum, you can't eat oysters when you're drinking brandy.'
'What has it go to do with you?' she asked.
'Nothing, nothing,' he cried. 'But you can't eat oysters when you're
drinking brandy.'
'I'm not drinking brandy,' she replied, and she sprinkled the last
drops of her liqueur over his face. He gave an odd squeal. She sat
looking at him, as if indifferent.
'Pussum, why do you do that?' he cried in panic. He gave Gerald the
impression that he was terrified of her, and that he loved his terror.
He seemed to relish his own horror and hatred of her, turn it over and
extract every flavour from it, in real panic.
Pages:
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147