..
"Ah, so! You go--already?"--
Gianapolis started back as though he had put his foot upon a viper, and
turned.
The Eurasian, wearing her yellow, Chinese dress, and with a red poppy in
her hair, stood watching him through half-shut eyes, slowly waving her
little fan before her face. Gianapolis attempted the radiant smile, but
its brilliancy was somewhat forced tonight.
"Yes, I must be off," he said hurriedly; "I have to see someone--a
future client, I think!"
"A future client--yes!"--the long black eyes were closed almost entirely
now. "Who is it--this future client, that you have to see?"
"My dear Mahara! How odd of you to ask that"...
"It is odd of me?--so!... It is odd of me that I thinking to wonder why
you alway running away from me now?"
"Run away from you! My dear little Mahara!"--He approached the
dusky beauty with a certain timidity as one might seek to caress a
tiger-cat--"Surely you know"...
She struck down his hand with a sharp blow of her closed fan, darting at
him a look from the brilliant eyes which was a living flame.
Resting one hand upon her hip, she stood with her right foot thrust
forward from beneath the yellow robe and pivoting upon the heel of its
little slipper. Her head tilted, she watched him through lowered lashes.
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