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fibbed became a hateful truth。 She said to herself feverishly：
〃I'll call him up there after dinnerand then he will feel
silly〃but only to remember that the Hickses； in their
mediaeval setting； had of course sternly denied themselves a
telephone。
The fact of Nick's temporary inaccessibilitysince she was now
convinced that he was really at the Hickses'turned her
distress to a mocking irritation。 Ah； that was where he carried
his principles； his standards； or whatever he called the new set
of rules he had suddenly begun to apply to the old game！ It was
stupid of her not to have guessed it at once。
〃Oh； the HicksesNick adores them； you know。 He's going to
marry Coral next；〃 she laughed out； flashing the joke around the
table with all her practiced flippancy。
〃Lord！〃 grasped Gillow； inarticulate： while the Prince
displayed the unsurprised smile which Susy accused him of
practicing every morning with his Mueller exercises。
Suddenly Susy felt Strefford's eyes upon her。
〃What's the matter with me？ Too much rouge？〃 she asked； passing
her arm in his as they left the table。
〃No： too little。 Look at yourself；〃 he answered in a low tone。
〃Oh； in these cadaverous old looking…glasses…everybody looks
fished up from the canal！〃
She jerked away from him to spin down the long floor of the
sala； hands on hips； whistling a rag…time tune。 The Prince and
young Breckenridge caught her up； and she spun back with the
latter； while Gillow…it was believed to be his sole
accomplishment…snapped his fingers in simulation of bones； and
shuffled after the couple on stamping feet。
Susy sank down on a sofa near the window； fanning herself with a
floating scarf； and the men foraged for cigarettes； and rang for
the gondoliers； who came in with trays of cooling drinks。
〃Well； what nextthis ain't all； is it？〃 Gillow presently
queried； from the divan where he lolled half…asleep with
dripping brow。 Fred Gillow； like Nature； abhorred a void； and
it was inconceivable to him that every hour of man's rational
existence should not furnish a motive for getting up and going
somewhere else。 Young Breckenridge； who took the same view； and
the Prince； who earnestly desired to； reminded the company that
somebody they knew was giving a dance that night at the Lido。
Strefford vetoed the Lido； on the ground that he'd just come
back from there； and proposed that they should go out on foot
for a change。
〃Why not？ What fun！〃 Susy was up in an instant。 〃Let's pay
somebody a surprise visitI don't know who！ Streffy； Prince；
can't you think of somebody who'd be particularly annoyed by our
arrival？〃
〃Oh； the list's too long。 Let's start； and choose our victim on
the way；〃 Strefford suggested。
Susy ran to her room for a light cloak； and without changing her
high…heeled satin slippers went out with the four men。 There
was no moonthank heaven there was no moon！but the stars hung
over them as close as fruit； and secret fragrances dropped on
them from garden…walls。 Susy's heart tightened with memories of
Como。
They wandered on； laughing and dawdling； and yielding to the
drifting whims of aimless people。 Presently someone proposed
taking a nearer look at the facade of San Giorgio Maggiore； and
they hailed a gondola and were rowed out through the bobbing
lanterns and twanging guitar…strings。 When they landed again；
Gillow； always acutely bored by scenery； and particularly
resentful of midnight aesthetics； suggested a night club near at
hand； which was said to be jolly。 The Prince warmly supported
this proposal； but on Susy's curt refusal they started their
rambling again； circuitously threading the vague dark lanes and
making for the Piazza and Florian's ices。 Suddenly； at a calle…
corner； unfamiliar and yet somehow known to her； Susy paused to
stare about her with a laugh。
〃But the Hicksessurely that's their palace？ And the windows
all lit up！ They must be giving a party！ Oh； do let's go up
and surprise them！〃 The idea struck her as one of the drollest
that she had ever originated； and she wondered that her
companions should respond so languidly。
〃I can't see anything very thrilling in surprising the Hickses；〃
Gillow protested； defrauded of possible excitements； and
Strefford added： 〃It would surprise me more than them if I
went。〃
But Susy insisted feverishly： 〃You don't know。 It may be
awfully exciting！ I have an idea that Coral's announcing her
engagementher engagement to Nick！ Come； give me a hand；
Streffand you the other； Fred…〃 she began to hum the first
bars of Donna Anna's entrance in Don Giovanni。 〃Pity I haven't
got a black cloak and a mask 。。。。〃
〃Oh； your face will do；〃 said Strefford； laying his hand on her
arm。
She drew back； flushing crimson。 Breckenridge and the Prince
had sprung on ahead； and Gillow； lumbering after them； was
already halfway up the stairs。
〃My face？ My face？ What's the matter with my face？ Do you
know any reason why I shouldn't go to the Hickses to…night？〃
Susy broke out in sudden wrath。
〃None whatever； except that if you do it will bore me to death；〃
Strefford returned； with serenity。
〃Oh； in that case！〃
〃No； come on。 I hear those fools banging on the door already。〃
He caught her by the hand； and they started up the stairway。
But on the first landing she paused； twisted her hand out of
his； and without a word； without a conscious thought； dashed
down the long flight； across the great resounding vestibule and
out into the darkness of the calle。
Strefford caught up with her； and they stood a moment silent in
the night。
〃Susywhat the devil's the matter？〃
〃The matter？ Can't you see？ That I'm tired； that I've got a
splitting headachethat you bore me to death； one and all of
you！〃 She turned and laid a deprecating hand on his arm。
〃Streffy； old dear； don't mind me： but for God's sake find a
gondola and send me home。〃
〃Alone？〃
〃Alone。〃
It was never any concern of Streff's if people wanted to do
things he did not understand； and she knew that she could count
on his obedience。 They walked on in silence to the next canal；
and he picked up a passing gondola and put her in it。
〃Now go and amuse yourself；〃 she called after him； as the boat
shot under the nearest bridge。 Anything； anything； to be alone；
away from the folly and futility that would be all she had left
if Nick were to drop out of her life 。。。。
〃But perhaps he has dropped alreadydropped for good；〃 she
thought as she set her foot on the Vanderlyn threshold。
The short summer night was already growing transparent： a new
born breeze stirred the soiled surface of the water and sent it
lapping freshly against the old palace doorways。 Nearly two
o'clock！ Nick had no doubt come back long ago。 Susy hurried up
the stairs； reassured by the mere thought of his nearness。 She
knew tha