He looked at her triumphantly. She had no idea what he was talking about.
My dear, he burst forth, leaning toward her with his whole body as he touched her on the upper leg, to show it was no mere irresponsible venture of his hand he was so sure of himself. Theres going to be a duel.
Wh-at?
A duel with we dont know what yet.
Whos going to duel?
Ill tell you from the beginning. He drew a long breath and then said, as if it were rather to her discredit but he wouldnt hold it against her. Of course, you were in the other automobile. Well, in a way you were lucky I lost at least two years of my life, it came so suddenly.
What came? she demanded.
I dont know what began it. First she began to talk
Who?
Violet McKisco. He lowered his voice as if there were people under the bench. But dont mention the Divers because he made threats against anybody who mentioned it.
Who did?
Tommy Barban, so dont you say I so much as mentioned them. None of us ever found out anyhow what it was Violet had to say because he kept interrupting her, and then her husband got into it and now, my dear, we have the duel. This morning at five oclock in an hour. He sighed suddenly thinking of his own griefs. I almost wish it were I. I might as well be killed now I have nothing to live for. He broke off and rocked to and fro[79] with sorrow.
Again the iron shutter parted above and the same British voice said:
Rilly, this must stup immejetely.[80]*
Simultaneously Abe North, looking somewhat distracted, came out of the hotel, perceived them against the sky, white over the sea. Rosemary shook her head warningly before he could speak and they moved another bench further down the road. Rosemary saw that Abe was a little tight.
What are you doing up? he demanded.
I just got up. She started to laugh, but remembering the voice above, she restrained herself.
Plagued by the nightingale, Abe suggested, and repeated, probably plagued by the nightingale. Has this sewing-circle member told you what happened?
Campion said with dignity:
I only know what I heard with my own ears. He got up and walked swiftly away; Abe sat down beside Rosemary.
Why did you treat him so badly?
Did I? he asked surprised. Hes been weeping around here all morning.
Well, maybe hes sad about something.
Maybe he is.
What about a duel? Whos going to duel? I thought there was something strange in that car. Is it true?
It certainly is coo-coo but it seems to be true.
X
The trouble began at the time Earl Bradys car passed the Divers car stopped on the road Abes account melted impersonally into the thronged night Violet McKisco was telling Mrs. Abrams something she had found out about the Divers she had gone upstairs in their house and she had come upon something there which had made a great impression on her. But Tommy is a watch-dog about the Divers. As a matter of fact she is inspiring and formidable but its a mutual thing, and the fact of the Divers together is more important to their friends than many of them realize. Of course its done at a certain sacrifice sometimes they seem just rather charming figures in a ballet, and worth just the attention you give a ballet, but its more than that youd have to know the story. Anyhow Tommy is one of those men that Dicks passed along to Nicole and when Mrs. McKisco kept hinting at her story, he called them on it. He said:
Mrs. McKisco, please dont talk further about Mrs. Diver.
I wasnt talking to you, she objected.
I think its better to leave them out.
Are they so sacred?
Leave them out. Talk about something else.
He was sitting on one of the two little seats beside Campion. Campion told me the story.
Well, youre pretty high-handed, Violet came back.
You know how conversations are in cars late at night, some people murmuring and some not caring, giving up after the party, or bored or asleep. Well, none of them knew just what happened until the car stopped and Barban cried in a voice that shook everybody, a voice for cavalry.
Do you want to step out here were only a mile from the hotel and you can walk it or Ill drag you there. Youve got to shut up and shut your wife up!
Youre a bully, said McKisco. You know youre stronger muscularly than I am. But Im not afraid of you what they ought to have is the code duello[81]
Theres where he made his mistake because Tommy, being French, leaned over and clapped him one[82], and then the chauffeur drove on. That was where you passed them. Then the women began. That was still the state of things when the car got to the hotel.
Tommy telephoned some man in Cannes to act as second and McKisco said he wasnt going to be seconded by Campion, who wasnt crazy for the job anyhow, so he telephoned me not to say anything but to come right down. Violet McKisco collapsed and Mrs. Abrams took her to her room and gave her a bromide whereupon she fell comfortably asleep on the bed. When I got there I tried to argue with Tommy but the latter wouldnt accept anything short of an apology and McKisco rather spunkily wouldnt give it.
* * *When Abe had finished Rosemary asked thoughtfully:
Do the Divers know it was about them?
No and theyre not ever going to know they had anything to do with it. That damn Campion had no business talking to you about it, but since he did I told the chauffeur Id get out the old musical saw if he opened his mouth about it. This fights between two men what Tommy needs is a good war.
I hope the Divers dont find out, Rosemary said.
Abe peered at his watch.
Ive got to go up and see McKisco do you want to come? he feels sort of friendless I bet he hasnt slept.
Rosemary had a vision of the desperate vigil that high-strung, badly organized man had probably kept. After a moment balanced between pity and repugnance she agreed, and full of morning energy, bounced upstairs beside Abe.
McKisco was sitting on his bed with his alcoholic combativeness vanished, in spite of the glass of champagne in his hand. He seemed very puny and cross and white. Evidently he had been writing and drinking all night. He stared confusedly at Abe and Rosemary and asked:
Is it time?
No, not for half an hour[83].
The table was covered with papers which he assembled with some difficulty into a long letter; the writing on the last pages was very large and illegible. In the delicate light of electric lamps fading, he scrawled his name at the bottom, crammed it into an envelope and handed it to Abe. For my wife.
You better souse your head in cold water, Abe suggested.
You think Id better? inquired McKisco doubtfully. I dont want to get too sober.
Well, you look terrible now.
Obediently McKisco went into the bathroom.
Im leaving everything in an awful mess, he called. I dont know how Violet will get back to America. I dont carry any insurance. I never got around to it.
Dont talk nonsense, youll be right here eating breakfast in an hour.