Beatrice came out on to the landing with him.
"So you won't marry me, Beatrice?" he said, as she held out her
hand.
She looked at him for a moment and then turned away with a faint
sob, without even a word of farewell. He watched her disappear
and heard the door shut. Slowly he began to descend the stone
steps. There was something to him a little fateful about the
closed door above, the long yet easy descent into the street.
CHAPTER XVII
THE BALCONY AT IMANO'S
At six o'clock that evening, Tavernake rang up the Milan Court
and inquired for Elizabeth. There was a moment or two's delay
and then he heard her reply. Even over the telephone wires, even
though he stood, cramped and uncomfortable, in that stuffy little
telephone booth, he felt the quick start of pleasure, the thrill
of something different in life, which came to him always at the
sound of her voice, at the slightest suggestion of her presence.
"Well, my friend, what fortune?" she asked him.
"None," he answered. "I have done my best. Beatrice will not
listen to me."
"She will not come and see me?"
"She will not."
Elizabeth was silent for a moment. When she spoke again, there
was a change in her tone.
"You have failed, then."
"I did everything that could be done," Tavernake insisted
eagerly. "I am quite sure that nothing anybody could say would
move Beatrice. She is very decided indeed."
"I have another idea," Elizabeth remarked, after a brief pause.
Pages:
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183