Trent's appearance upon the lawn was greeted with a shout of enthusiasm.The young lady in blue executed a pas seut,and came across to him on her toes,and the girl with the yellow hair,although sulky,gave him to understand by a sidelong glance that her favour was not permanently withdrawn.They neither of the noticed the somewhat ominous air of civility with which he received their greetings,or the contempt in his eyes as he looked them silently over.
"Where are the lost tribe?"he inquired,as the girls,one on either side,escorted him to the house.
They received his witticism with a piercing shriek of laughter.
"Mamma and her rag of a daughter are in the drawing room,"explained Miss Montressor -the young lady with fluffy hair who dressed in blue and could dance."Such a joke,General!They don't approve of us!Mamma says that she shall have to take her Julie away if we remain.We are not fit associates for her.Rich,isn't it!The old chap's screwing up his courage now with brandy and soda to tell you so!
Trent laughed heartily.The situation began to appeal to him.
There was humour in it which he alone could appreciate.
"Does he expect me to send you away?"he asked.
"That's a cert!"Miss Montressor affirmed."The old woman's been playing the respectable all day,turning up the whites of her eyes at me because I did a high kick in the hall,and groaning at Flossie because she had a few brandies;ain't that so,Flossie?"The young lady with yellow hair confirmed the statement with much dignity.
"I had a toothache,"she said,"and Mrs.Da Souza,or whatever the old cat calls herself,was most rude.I reckon myself as respectable as she is any day,dragging that yellow-faced daughter of hers about with her and throwing her at men's heads."Miss Montressor,who had stopped to pick a flower,rejoined them.
"I say,General,"she remarked,"fair's fair,and a promise is a promise.We didn't come down here to be made fools of by a fat old Jewess.You won't send us away because of the old wretch?""I promise,"said Trent,"that when she goes you go,and not before.
Is that sufficient?"
"Right oh!"the young lady declared cheerfully."Now you go and prink up for dinner.We're ready,Flossie and I.The little Jew girl's got a new dress -black covered with sequins.It makes her look yellower than ever.There goes the bell,and we're both as hungry as hunters.Look sharp!"Trent entered the house.Da Souza met him in the hall,sleek,curly,and resplendent in a black dinner-suit.The years had dealt lightly with him,or else the climate of England was kinder to his yellow skin than the moist heat of the Gold Coast.He greeted Trent with a heartiness which was partly tentative,partly boisterous.
"Back from the coining of the shekels,my dear friend,"he exclaimed."Back from the spoiling of the Egyptians,eh?How was money to-day?""An eighth easier,"Trent answered,ascending the stairs.
Da Souza fidgeted about with the banisters,and finally followed him.
"There was just a word,"he remarked,"a little word I wanted with you.""Come and talk while I wash,"Trent said shortly."Dinner's on,and I'm hungry.""Certainly,certainly,"Da Souza murmured,closing the door behind them as they entered the lavatory."It is concerning these young ladies.""What!Miss Montressor and her friend?"Trent remarked thrusting his head into the cold water."Phew!""Exactly!Two very charming young ladies,my dear friend,very charming indeed,but a little -don't you fancy just a little fast!""Hadn't noticed it,"Trent answered,drying himself."What about it?"Da Souza tugged at his little black imperial,and moved uneasily about.
"We -er -men of the world,my dear Trent,we need not be so particular,eh?-but the ladies -the ladies are so observant.""What ladies?"Trent asked coolly.
"It is my wife who has been talking to me,"Da Souza continued.
"You see,Julie is so young -our dear daughter she is but a child;and,as my wife says,we cannot be too particular,too careful,eh;you understand!""You want them to go?Is that it?"Da Souza spread out his hands -an old trick,only now the palms were white and the diamonds real.
"For myself,"he declared,"I find them charming.It is my wife who says to me,'Hiram,those young persons,they are not fit company for our dear,innocent Julie!You shall speak to Mr.Trent.
He will understand!'Eh?"
Trent had finished his toilet and stood,the hairbrushes still in his hands,looking at Da Souza's anxious face with a queer smile upon his lips.
"Yes,I understand,Da Souza,"he said."No doubt you are right,you cannot be too careful.You do well to be particular."Da Souza winced.He was about to speak,but Trent interrupted him.
"Well,I'll tell you this,and you can let the missis know,my fond father.They leave to-morrow.Is that good enough?"Da Souza caught at his host's hand,but Trent snatched it away.
"My dear -my noble -"
"Here,shut up and don't paw me,"Trent interrupted."Mind,not a word of this to any one but your wife;the girls don't know they're going themselves yet."They entered the dining-room,where every one else was already assembled.Mrs.Da Souza,a Jewess portly and typical,resplendent in black satin and many gold chains and bangles,occupied the seat of honour,and by her side was a little brown girl,with dark,timid eyes and dusky complexion,pitiably over-dressed but with a certain elf-like beauty,which it was hard to believe that she could ever have inherited.Miss Montressor and her friend sat on either side of their host -an arrangement which Mrs.Da Souza lamented,but found herself powerless to prevent,and her husband took the vacant place.Dinner was served,and with the opening of the champagne,which was not long delayed,tongues were loosened.
"It was very hot in the City to-day,"Mrs.Da Souza remarked to her host."Dear Ju1ie was saying what a shame it seemed that you should be there and we should be enjoying your beautiful gardens.
