tufted ottoman beside him, and slipped her hand over his. How light it felt. Her hands were the only pan of her which revealed age without question.
"Elliott, you've borrowed again against my necklace," she said.
He was ashamed. He said nothing." I know you did it for Randolph. Henry's debts again. Always the same story."
He looked at the coals in front of him. He didn't answer. After all, what was there to say? She knew it was safe in the hands of a jeweller trusted by both of them, that the advance had been relatively small - easy for her to manage, even if Randolph did not come through.
"Why didn't you come to me and tell me you needed money?" she asked him.
"It's never been easy to do that, my dear. Besides, Henry has made things so difficult for Randolph."
"I know. And I know you meant well, as usual."
"As vulgar as it may sound, a loan against a diamond necklace is a small price to pay for the Stratford millions. And that's where we are, my dear, trying to make a good marriage, as they say, for our son."
"Randolph cannot persuade his niece to marry Alex. He has no influence with her at all. You lent the money because you felt sorry for Randolph. Because he's your old friend."
"Perhaps that's true."
He sighed. He wouldn't look at her." Perhaps, in some way, I feel responsible," he said.
"How could you be responsible? What have you to do with Henry, and what's become of him?" she asked.
He didn't answer. He thought of the hotel room in Paris, and the look of dull misery in Henry's eyes when his attempt at extortion had failed. Strange how clear it all was to him, the furnishings of that room. Later, when he had discovered the theft of the cigarette case and the money, he had sat thinking: I must remember this; I must remember .all of it. This mustn't happen to me again.
"I'm sorry about the necklace, Edith," he whispered, suddenly stung to think that he had stolen from his wife as Henry had stolen from him. He found himself smiling at her, even winking, flirting a little as he always did. He gave her a little shrug.
She acknowledged all this with a wicked little smile of her own. Years ago she would have said, Don't play the bad boy with me. The fact that she didn't say it anymore didn't mean she didn't find him charming.
" Randolph has the money now to cover the loan," he assured her, more seriously.
"Not necessary," she whispered." Leave it to me." And now she rose slowly and waited. She knew that he could use her help to get up and on his feet. And much as it humiliated him, he knew it too.
"Where are you going?" she asked as she held out her hands.
"Samir Ibrahaim at the museum."
"This mummy again."
"Henry's come up with the strangest story. ..."
ALEX, MY darling," she said, taking both his hands in hers." Mr. Ramsey was a good friend of Father's. It's quite all right his being here."
"But you're alone..." He looked disapprovingly at her white peignoir, as well he might.
"Alex, I'm a modern girl. Don't question me! Now off you go and let me take care of my guest. In a few days, we'll have lunch, and I'll explain the entire thing - "
"Julie, a few days!"
She kissed him quickly on the lips. She pressed him towards the front door. He gave another one of those determined glances back down the hall towards the conservatory.
"Alex, go now. The man's from Egypt; I'm to show him London. And I'm rushed. Please, darling dear, do as I ask you."
She all but shoved him out the door. He was too much of a gentleman to protest further. He gave her that innocent, baffled look, and then said softly that he would call her this evening on the telephone if that was all right.
"Of course," she said." You're a sweetheart." Blowing him a little kiss off the tips of her fingers, she shut the door immediately.
She turned and leaned against the wall for a moment, staring back down the hall herself at the glass doors. She saw Rita dash by. She heard the sound of the kettle in the kitchen. The house was full of warm pungent fragrances of cooking food.
Her heart was pounding again; thoughts did drift through her brain, but they had no immediate