manner, added to the effect of the potent cocktails, restored to him some of his lost ease. He was sufficiently conscious of this boon to wish that he had acquired the cocaine habit. Mercifully, Imperia had provided an adequate supply of champagne. With a footman at his elbow constantly replenishing his glass whenever it was empty, Ambrose felt more and more fortified to withstand whatever revelations or recriminations the beautiful woman opposite was holding in store for him. Moreover, considerately or unconsciously, she postponed the moment for more personal speech, dwelling lightly at first on a variety of topics, casual gossip of the studios, references to Mama, dissection of other stars, and the like. However, even in her lightest moments, there was always something portentous about the manner of Imperia Starling. She reminded Ambrose of a friendly summer landscape over which a threatening storm-cloud hovered. It was apparent, moreover, that her pleasanter aspects were born of art rather than nature. It was also obvious that she preferred Imperia Starling to all other possible subjects of conversation. Whatever the ostensible theme of her remarks, she adroitly contrived to drag in references to herself even when there seemed no suitable occasion for her to do so. Her sentences, indeed, were as liberally
