Her instant and uninterested acceptance of him almost
nettled him; his own half-contemptuous impression of Chilcote
came to him unpleasantly, and with it the first desire to
assert his own individuality. Stung by the conflicting
emotions, he felt in Chilcote's pockets for something to
smoke.
Eve saw and interpreted the action. "Are these your cigarettes?"
She leaned towards a small table and took up a box made of
lizard-skin.
"Thanks." He took the box from her, and as it passed from one
to the other he saw her glance at his rings. The glance was
momentary; her lips parted to express question or surprise,
then closed again without comment. More than any spoken words,
the incident showed him the gulf that separated husband and
wife.
"Well?" he said again, "what about Fraide?"
At his words she sat straighter and looked at him more
directly, as if bracing herself to a task.
"Mr. Fraide is--is as interested as ever in you," she began.
"Or in you?" Loder made the interruption precisely as he felt
Chilcote would have made it.
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