The room looked cheerful and warm, and was welcome after the chilly, dreary streets.

Mallow, having taken off his overcoat in the hall, came forward and bowed somewhat formally, but Maraquito was not to be put off with so frigid a greeting.

Holding out both hands, she shook his warmly and pointed to a chair near her couch.

It was now a few minutes after nine.
"How good of you to come and see me," she said in her deep, rich voice.
"The evening was so dull." "You are not having any play this evening ?" Maraquito shrugged her fine shoulders and unfurled a quite unnecessary fan, which, to keep up her fiction of being a Spanish lady, she always carried.

"Some idiot told the police what was going on and I received a notice to close." "But the police knew long ago." "Not officially.