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Chapter 2

The Coming of the Charo Lay

Sonia went back to her table, and once more began putting wedding cards in their envelopes

and addressing them.

German moved restlessly about the room,

fidgeting with the brick-a-brack on the cabinets,

shifting the pieces about, interrupting Sonia to ask whether she preferred this arrangement or that,

throwing herself into a chair to read a magazine,

getting up in a couple of minutes to straighten a picture on the wall,

throwing out all the while idle questions not worth answering.

99 human beings would have been irritated to exasperation by her fidgeting.

Sonia endured it with a perfect patience.

Five times German asked her whether she should wear her heliotrope,

or her pink gown at a forthcoming dinner at Madame de Reselier.

Five times, Sonia said, without the slightest variation in her tone,

I think you look better in the pink,

and all the while the pile of addressed envelopes rose steadily.

Presently, the door opened and Alfred stood on the threshold.

...