"As
for you, Laura, I can't think what's come over you. You never opened your
mouth at dinner-time, and you sit there now looking like nothing on
earth."
"I am beginning to suspect her," Lenora chimed in. "Too bad he had to
hurry away, dear!"
Laura's indignation was not altogether convincing. Quest and Lenora
exchanged amused glances. The former picked up the newspaper from the
floor and calmly turned out the Professor's lamp.
"Look here," he explained, "this is the first night of our holiday. I'm
going to run the party and I'm going to make the rules. No more newspapers
to-night or for a fortnight. You understand? No reading, nothing but
frivolity. And no love-sickness, Miss Laura."
"Love-sickness, indeed!" she repeated scornfully.
"Having arranged those minor details," Quest concluded, "on with your
hats, everybody. I am going to take you out to a cafe where they play the
best music in the city. We are going to have supper, drink one another's
health, and try and forget the last few months altogether."
Lenora clapped her hands and Laura rose at once to her feet. The Professor
obediently crossed the room for his hat.
"I am convinced," he said, "that our friend Quest's advice is good. We
will at any rate embark upon this particular frivolity which he suggests."
2.
Quest took the dispatch which the hotel clerk handed to him one afternoon
a fortnight later, and read it through without change of expression.
Lenora, however, who was by his side, knew at once that it contained
something startling.
Pages:
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291