II4
DIAMONDS TO SIT ON
They began to walk round the room and to examine the chairs. ' WeU ? ’ said Bender impatiently. ‘ The backs don’t seem to be the same as mine.’ ‘ So they’re not yours ? ’ ' No, they’re not.’ ‘ Well, all I can say is, I seem to have joined up with you for nothing.’ Hippolyte was downcast. ‘ Never mind,’ said Bender. ‘ Let the good work go on. After all, a chair isn’t a needle, and we’re sure to find it. We’ll find it. Pass me those orders. We’ll have to have an unpleasant interview with the curator of this museum. You sit down with the girl and stay there. I’ll be back in a minute.’ ‘ Why are you so sad ? ’ Liza asked several times. ' Are you tired ? ’ Hippolyte was silent. ‘ Have you got a headache ? ’ ‘ Yes, slightly. Worries, you know, and the absence of feminine charm.’ At first Liza was surprised, but after looking at him she began to pity him. His eyes were sad, and there were shadows under them. The rapid change from the quiet life of a registrar to the anxious life of an adventurer and diamond-hunter had left its marks. Once alone for a minute with this delightful young woman he felt a sudden longing to tell her all about his troubles, but he did not dare. ‘ Yes,’ said he, looking at her tenderly and taking hold of her hand, ' such is life.’ And he began to talk ardently about Paris. He longed to be rich, extrava gant, irresistible ; he wanted some one to fall in love with him ; he ached for love, for music, and cham pagne. What could he say to this young woman who knew nothing about music or champagne and little enough about love ? But Liza was charmed with his stories of Paris.
