"How much does a car like that cost, Leroy ?" "About twenty-five thousand," he said gloomily.

Then, looking up, "Hold on, Millbank, don't be going! Why can't you all dine with us?
Never mind your car; ours is all right, and we'll run out into the country for dinner.

How about it, Miss Del Garcia ?" But both Miss Del Garcia and Miss Hutchinson had accepted another invitation, in which Millbank was also included.
They stood about, veils floating, leather decorated coats thrown back, lingering for awhile to talk the garage talk which fascinates people of their type; then Millbank looked at the clock, made his adieux to Lydia, nodded significantly to Mortimer, and followed the others down-stairs.
There was something amiss with his motor, for it made a startling racket in the street, finally plunging forward with a kick.
Lydia laughed as the two young girls in the tonneau turned to nod to her in mock despair; then she came running back up-stairs, holding her skirt free from her hurrying little feet.
"Well ?" she inquired, as Mortimer turned back from the window to confront her.
"Nothing doing, little girl," he said with a sombre smile.
She looked at him, slowly divesting herself of her light leather-trimmed coat.
"I missed him," said Mortimer.
She flung the coat over a chair, stood a moment, her fingers busy with her hair-pegs, then sat down on the couch, taking Tinto into her lap.
She was very pretty, dark, slim, marvellously graceful in her every movement.
"I missed him," repeated Mortimer.
"Can't you see him to-morrow ?" she asked.
"I suppose so," said Mortimer slowly.

"Oh, Lord! how I hate this business!" "Hasn't he misused your confidence?
Hasn't he taken your money ?" she asked.

"It may be unpleasant for you to make him unbelt, but you're a coward if you don't!" "Easy! easy, now!" muttered Mortimer; "I'm going to shake it out of him.
I said I would, and I will." "I should hope so; it's yours." "Certainly it's mine.