'Now listen, my child. Don't see Aylmer for a little while.'
'He wants me to take him out for a drive.'
'Take him for a drive. But not this week. How Madame Frabelle loves
Bruce!' he went on, watching her.
'Really, Landi, I assure you you're occasionally as mistaken as she is.
And she thinks I'm in love with our host.'
'That's because _elle voit double_. I don't.'
'What makes you think....'
'I read between the lines, my dear--between the lines on Madame
Frabelle's face.'
'She hasn't any.'
'Oh, go along,' said Landi, who sometimes broke into peculiar English
which he thought was modern slang. Raising his voice, he said: 'The
dinner is _exquis--exquis_,' so that Mr Mitchell could hear.
'I can't help noting what you've eaten tonight, Landi, though I don't
usually observe these things,' Edith said. 'You've had half-a-tomato, a
small piece of vegetable marrow, and a sip of claret. Aren't you going
to eat anything more?'
'Not much more. I look forward to my coffee and my cigar. Oh, how I look
forward to it!'
'You know very well, Landi, they let you smoke cigarettes between the
courses, if you like.'
'It would be better than nothing.
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