No one attempted to gainsay him.
They were gone almost before they realized that their idol had not spoken
a word to them. The moment was past, and the excitement died down to a
buzz of talk.
"An amazing woman!" said Saltash.
Toby glanced at him, and said nothing. She had watched the whole episode
from her corner with eyes that missed nothing; but she had not spoken a
word.
He bent suddenly towards her. "Drink some wine, _cherie_! You are pale."
She started a little at the quick peremptoriness of his speech. She
lifted her glass to drink, and splashed some of the wine over. He leaned
farther forward, screening her from observation.
"Go on! Drink!" he said, with insistence, and in a moment his hand closed
upon hers, guiding the wine to her lips.
She drank obediently, not meeting his look, and he took the glass from
her, and set it down.
"Now we will go. Are you ready?"
She rose, and he stood aside for her. As she passed him, his hand closed
for an instant upon her bare arm in a grasp that was close and vital. She
threw him a quick, upward glance; but still she said no word.
They passed out through the throng of diners almost unobserved, but in
the corridor Spentoli leaned against a pillar smoking a long, black
cigar.
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