"It's the best," Tavernake declared, "the best!"
CHAPTER V
BEATRICE REFUSES
A week later Tavernake was in London. A visit to his friend Mr.
Martin had easily proved the truth of Pritchard's words, and he
found himself in possession of a sum of money at least twice as
great as he had anticipated. He stayed at a cheap hotel in the
Strand and made purchases under Pritchard's supervision. For the
first few days he was too busy for reflection. Then Pritchard
let him alone while he ran over to Paris, and Tavernake suddenly
realized that he was in the city to which he had thought never to
return. He passed the back of the theatre where he had waited
for Beatrice, he looked up at the entrance of the Milan Court; he
lunched alone, and with a curious mixture of feelings, at the
little restaurant where he had supped with Beatrice. It was
over, that part of his life, over and finished. Yet, with his
natural truthfulness, he never attempted to disguise from himself
the pain at his heart. Three times in one day he found himself,
under some pretext or another, in Imano's Restaurant. Once, in
the middle of the street, he burst into a fit of laughter. It
was while Pritchard was in London, and he asked him a question.
"Pritchard," he remarked, "you area man of experience. Did any
one ever care for two women at the same time?"
Pritchard removed his cigar from his teeth and stared at his
companion.
"Why, my young friend," he replied, "I've found no trouble myself
in being fond of a dozen.
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