OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

THE LODGER 75
" What do you mean? "
" They've found out about the Palace. Where are the notes? "
" In my bag."
" Hand it over."
Under cover of the projecting edge of the big mahogany bar
Sylvie managed to extract the notes without being seen, and slipped
them under her bodice.
" What do you propose to do? And how about me} What ought
I to say? "
" Oh, you're safe enough. I only asked you to change the notes.
You knew nothing about them."
" And that's the truth. When I went to Gand I didn't know ..."
Two couples were dancing. Furtively Sylvie squeezed her friend's
fingers.
" Don't worry, pet. Leave it to me."
When he saw her coming back to him, the young man beamed
with delight.
" Your friend's nothing like so pretty as you are," he exclaimed
with naive eagerness. " What'll you drink? "
" We've had a drink already."
" Yes, but he's taken the glasses away."
She scowled at the waiter, though, after all, he was only doing
his duty in obliging customers to order drinks.
" All right. An orangeade."
In some way it was a nuisance having this sentimental youth on
her hands; still, his company made the situation easier than if she'd
been alone. Though Jacqueline had turned up, Sylvie continued
watching the door, and once again she had a presentiment—on
hearing heavy footsteps coming up the stairs, and the voice of the
manager, announcing:
" This way, sir. The show's just going to start."
But no one entered, nor was there any sound but that of the
clubroom door opening and closing. For, officially the Merryland
passed for a private club; this enabled alcoholic drinks to be served
on the premises. And, for appearance's sake, a small room on the
other side of the landing had been fitted up as a reading-room, with
magazines strewn on the table, and two big leather armchairs.
" Does this... this gay life really give you pleasure? " The'
young man blushed at his audacity.
Without stopping to think, she answered almost angrily:
"'Gay'do you call it?"