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The Egotist Considers
Aboutoneo’clocktheymovedtoMaxim’s,andtwofoundtheminDeviniere’s.Sloanehadbeendrinkingconsecutivelyandwasinastateofunsteadyexhilaration,butAmorywasquitetiresomelysober;theyhadrunacrossnoneofthoseancient,corruptbuyersofchampagnewhousuallyassistedtheirNewYorkparties.TheywerejustthroughdancingandweremakingtheirwaybacktotheirchairswhenAmorybecameawarethatsomeoneatanear-bytablewaslookingathim.Heturnedandglancedcasually...amiddle-agedmandressedinabrownsacksuit,itwas,sittingalittleapartatatablebyhimselfandwatchingtheirpartyintently.AtAmory’sglancehesmiledfaintly.AmoryturnedtoFred,whowasjustsittingdown.
"Who’sthatpalefoolwatchingus?"hecomplainedindignantly.
"Where?"criedSloane."We’llhavehimthrownout!"Herosetohisfeetandswayedbackandforth,clingingtohischair."Whereishe?"
AxiaandPhoebesuddenlyleanedandwhisperedtoeachotheracrossthetable,andbeforeAmoryrealizedittheyfoundthemselvesontheirwaytothedoor.
"Wherenow?"
"Uptotheflat,"suggestedPhoebe."We’vegotbrandyandfizz—andeverything’sslowdownhereto-night."
Amoryconsideredquickly.Hehadn’tbeendrinking,anddecidedthatifhetooknomore,itwouldbereasonablydiscreetforhimtotrotalongintheparty.Infact,itwouldbe,perhaps,thethingtodoinordertokeepaneyeonSloane,whowasnotinastatetodohisownthinking.