Театр

           Whentheyhadleftheasked:

           "Wasn’tthatLordandLadyDennorant?"

           "Yes.I’veknownGeorgesincehewasatEton."

           Hefollowedthemwithhiseyes.

           "ShewasLadyCecilyLaweston,wasn’tshe?"

           "I’veforgotten.Wasshe?"

           Itseemedamatterofnointeresttoher.Afewminuteslateranothercouplepassedthem.

           "Look,there’sLadyLepard."

           "Who’sshe?"

           "Don’tyouremember,theyhadabigpartyattheirplaceinCheshireafewweeksagoandthePrinceofWaleswasthere.ItwasintheBystander!’’

           Oh,thatwashowhegotallhisinformation.Poorsweet.Hereadaboutgrandpeopleinthepapersandnowandthen,atarestaurantoratheatre,sawthemintheflesh.Ofcourseitwasathrillforhim.Romance.Ifheonlyknewhowdulltheywerereally!Thisinnocentpassionforthepersonswhosephotographsappearintheillustratedpapersmadehimseemincrediblynaive,andshelookedathimwithtendereyes.

           "Haveyouevertakenanactressouttosupperbefore?"

           Heblushedscarlet.

           "Never."

           Shehatedtolethimpaythebill,shehadaninklingthatitwascostingprettywellhisweek’ssalary,butsheknewitwouldhurthisprideifsheofferedtopayitherself.Sheaskedcasuallywhatthetimewasandinstinctivelyhelookedathiswrist.

           "Iforgottoputonmywatch."

           Shegavehimasearchinglook.

           "Haveyoupawnedit?"

           Hereddenedagain.

           "No.Idressedinratherahurrytonight."

           Sheonlyhadtolookathistietoknowthathehaddonenosuchthing.Hewaslyingtoher.Sheknewthathehadpawnedhiswatchinordertotakeherouttosupper