..
In her fanciful robe of old gold, with her tiny feet shod in
ridiculously small, gilt slippers, she stood by the screen watching
the stupefied man--an exquisite, fragrantly youthful casket of ancient,
unnameable evils.
"Good evening, Soames!" she said, stumbling quaintly with her English,
but speaking in a voice musical as a silver bell. "You will here be
known as Lucas. Mr. King he wishing me to say that you to receive two
pounds, at each week."...
Soames, glassy-eyed, stood watching her. A horror, the horror of
insanity, had descended upon him--a clammy, rose-scented mantle. The
room, the incredible, book-lined room, was a red blur, surrounding the
black, taunting eyes of the Eurasian. Everything was out of focus; past,
present, and future were merged into a red, rose-haunted nothingness...
"You will attend to Block A," resumed the girl, pointing at him with a
little fan. "You will also attend to the gentlemen."...
She laughed softly, revealing tiny white teeth; then paused, head tilted
coquettishly, and appeared to be listening to someone's conversation--to
the words of some person seated behind the screen. This fact broke in
upon Soames' disordered mind and confirmed him in his opinion that he
was a man demented. For only one slight sound broke the silence of the
room.
Pages:
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154