Chapter 16 Section 5

Mr. Quvis appreciatively drank a glass of red wine in his hand, very good wine.The dinner dishes were also well prepared and very comforting to eat.Evidently Mrs Tricilian got on well with her servants. Although the mistress was bedridden, the house was well organized. Perhaps, it is a pity that none of the ladies shy away from exiting the restaurant when the red wine is served.He likes the old fashioned rules - but these young men have their own way. His eyes fell on Neville Schunkiev's gorgeous present wife. Kay stole the show tonight.Her beauty shone brightly in the candlelight.Beside her, Ted Latimer tilted his sleek head toward her.He's helping her out.She felt confident and triumphant.

Just the sight of this splendor and vitality was enough to warm Mr. Traves' old bones to life. Young - there's really nothing like being young! No wonder a husband loses his mind and leaves his ex-wife.Audrey sat beside him.Nice woman, ladylike—but, in Mr. Traves' experience, it was the kind of woman who invariably met the fate of abandonment. He glanced at her.She looked down at her plate.There seemed to be something in her unmoved manner which surprised Mr. Traves.He looked at her more closely.A head of combed hair and small shell-like ears look very charming... He awoke from his private meditations a little startled at the realization that the dining room had changed.He stood up hastily.

In the living room, Kay Schunji went straight to the gramophone and played a dance record. Mary Odin said apologetically to Mr. Traves: "I'm sure you don't like jazz." "Nothing," said Mr. Traves politely. "Perhaps we can play bridge later on?" she suggested, "but not yet, because I know Mrs. Tricilian is waiting to have a chat with you." "That would be wonderful. Mrs. Tricilian never came downstairs?" "No, she used to get down in a wheelchair, that's why we installed a lift. But now she'd rather stay in her own room. She can talk to whoever she likes there, like a royal summons."

"Well said, Miss Odin. I have always felt that Mrs. Tricilian has a taste of royalty." In the middle of the living room, Kay slid into a slow dance. she says: "Move that table away, Neville." Her words are assertive and confident.Her eyes sparkled brightly, and her cherry lips parted slightly. Neville moved the table obediently, then took a step towards her, but she turned deftly to Ted Latimer. "Come on, Ted, let's dance." Tad's arms immediately closed around her.They danced and swayed; the steps were perfectly coordinated and the performance was brilliant.

Mr. Traves murmured: "Er—pretty brilliant." Mary Odin cringed a little - but of course Mr Traves meant nothing more than pure admiration.She looked at his wise old face.The expression on his face was absent-minded, as if he was thinking about something. Neville stood there hesitating for a moment, then walked towards Audrey who was standing by the window. "Let's dance, Deli?" His tone was formal, bordering on cold, giving the impression that his invitation was merely out of politeness.Audrey Schunji hesitated for a moment, then nodded and took a step closer to him.

Mary Odin exchanged a few words with Mr. Traves, but Mr. Traves did not respond.He hadn't shown signs of being hard of hearing until now and had coped well—she knew he was thinking about it.She was not quite sure whether he was looking at the dancers or at Thomas Lloyd standing alone across the living room. Mr. Traves was a little surprised. He said: "Excuse me, my dear lady, what did you just say?" "Nothing. It's just an unusually fine September day." "Oh, it's true—there's a lack of rain here, I've been told by the people at the hotel."

"I hope you're comfortable living there, aren't you?" "Oh yes, though I have to say I was annoyed when I first arrived to find out—" Mr. Travis interrupted. Audrey has left Neville.She smiled apologetically and said: "It's too hot to dance in this weather." She walked towards the open French door and stepped out onto the balcony. "Oh! go after her, you fool," whispered Mary.She expected to hear only herself, but her words were loud enough for Mr. Travis to turn his head and stare at her in astonishment. "I said what was on my mind," she said shyly, "but he really pissed me off. He's so dull."

"Mr. Shi Chunji?" "Oh no, not Neville. I mean Thomas Lloyd." Thomas Lloyd was about to leave, but he was a step too late. Neville followed Audrey out after a pause. Mr. Travis's eyes fell on the window for a moment, thinking something in his mind, and then his attention returned to the dancing couple. "It's a beautiful dance, young one—Mr. Latimer, you say that's his name?" "Yes, Edward Latimer." "Ah, yes, Edward Latimer. An old friend of Mrs. Schunk, I suppose?" "yes." "What does this very - er - handsome young gentleman do for a living?"

"Oh, I don't quite know, really." "Well," said Mr. Traves in a knowing and innocuous word."He's staying at the East Head Inn," continued Mary. "It's very convenient," said Mr. Travis. After a while, he said absently again: "The head shape is kind of interesting—the odd angle from the top of the head to the neck—it's less noticeable with that hairstyle, but it's certainly unusual." He paused again. For a moment, and then continued with more fascination: "The last time I saw a man with this head shape was sentenced to ten years of hard labor for attacking an old jeweler."

"You don't mean—" exclaimed Mary. "No, of course not," said Mr. Traves. "You're totally mistaken. In no way did I mean to belittle your guest. I was just saying that a hard-boiled criminal might look like a very attractive, well-mannered young man. Strange as it sounds, but it's true." He smiled at her kindly.Mary said, "You know, Mr. Traves, I think I'm a little afraid of you." "Nonsense, my dear lady." "But I'm really a little afraid of you. You're—such a shrewd observer." "My eyes," said Mr. Traves triumphantly, "are as good as ever." He paused, and then added: "Whether it is luck or misfortune, I cannot at the moment say."

"How could it be unlucky?" Mr. Travis shook his head suspiciously. "Sometimes people are put in positions of responsibility. The correct course of action is not always easy to determine." Hastor came in with a coffee tray. After giving Mary and the old lawyer a glass each, he walked towards Thomas Lloyd.Then, following Mary's instructions, he put the coffee tray on a low table and left the living room. Kay leaned over Tad's shoulder and said, "We'll have a drink after this one." Mary said, "I'll take Audrey's out to her." She picked up the glass and walked to the French doors.Mr. Travis accompanied her.He looked over her shoulder as she paused in the doorway. Audrey sat in the corner of the fence.In the clear and bright moonlight, her beauty came alive—a beauty of lines rather than colors.The graceful line from the chin to the ears, the softly shaped chin and lips, and the really lovely head and the small and straight bridge of the nose.Even when Audrey Schunk was old, this beauty would still exist—it had nothing to do with the skin—it was the frame itself that was beautiful.The effect of the moonlight is enhanced by the metallic sequins she wears.She sat very still, and Neville Schunji stood watching her. Neville took a step closer to her. "Audrey," he said, "you—" She changed her posture, then jumped down lightly, and stretched her hand towards her ear: "Oh! My earrings—I must have taken them off." "Where did it fall? Let's see--" They both bent over at the same time, awkwardly, awkwardly -- touching each other.Audrey jumped away, and Neville called out: "Wait a minute—my cufflinks—got caught in your hair, don't move." She stood quite calmly while he fiddled with the cuff buttons. "Woo--you even pulled out my hair--you're so clumsy, hurry up, Neville." "Sorry, I—I seem to be really clumsy." The brightness of the moonlight was enough for the two onlookers to see what Audrey couldn't see, and Neville's hands were shaking as he was busy untying a lock of light-blond hair that was caught. And yet Audrey herself was shaking--as if suddenly chilled. Mary Odin was startled by a calm voice behind her: "Sorry--" Thomas Lloyd walked past her. "Can I come, Shi Chunji?" he asked. Neville straightened up, and he and Audrey moved away. "Okay, I've untied it." Neville's face paled a little. "You're cold," Thomas said to Audrey, "go in and have a cup of coffee." She walked back with him, and Neville turned to look at the sea. "I was going to serve it to you," said Mary, "but you might as well come in and drink." "Yes," said Audrey, "I think I'd better go in." They all went back to the living room.Ted and Kay are no longer dancing. As soon as the door of the living room opened, a tall and thin woman in black came in.She respectfully said: "Madame greets everyone. She would like to see Mr. Traves in her room."