II-XVI

"I've got something for you," Gordon said suddenly.

"I hope it's pretty," she replied, leaning
forward, resting against his shoulder.

He brought from his pocket the slender, looped
necklace of seed pearls. It was faintly visible in the
dark, the diamond clasp made a small glint. She
took it eagerly from him. "I'll light a match," he
told her. In the minute, orange radiance the pearls
shimmered in her fingers.

"But it's wonderful!" she exclaimed, unable to
suppress her surprise at his unerring choice; "it's
exactly right. Have you been to Stenton?, however
could you get this here?"

"Oh, I know a few things," he assured her; "I
got an eye. Let me put it on for you." He took
it from her, and his hands fumbled about her smooth
throat. He required a long time to fasten it. The
intoxication of the subtlety of her sex welled from
hand to head. He kissed her still lips until he
ceased from sheer lack of breath. He drew her
close to him, with an arm about her pliant waist.

"I've been thinking of you in those pretty clothes,"
he admitted.

[[249]]

p248 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p249w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p250

v?