“Oh,” she said coolly; “you?”

That was her greeting; his was a briefer nod.

She went to her mirror and studied her face, trying a patch here, a hint of vermilion there, touching up brow and lashes and the sweet, curling corners of her mouth.

“Well?” she inquired, over her shoulder, insolently.

He got up out of the chair, shut the door, and returned to his seat again.

“Have you made up your mind about the D and P securities?” he asked.

“I told you I’d let you know when I came to any conclusion,” she replied drily.

“Yes, I know what you said, Rosalie.  But the time is shortening.  I’ve got to meet certain awkward obligations——­”

“So you intimated before.”

He nodded and went on amiably:  “All I ask of you is to deposit those securities with us for a few months.  They are as safe with us as they are with the Half-Moon.  Do you think I’d let you do it if I were not certain?”

She turned and scrutinised him insultingly: 

“I don’t know,” she said, “how many kinds of treachery you are capable of.”

“What do you mean?”

“What I say.  Frankly, I don’t know what you are capable of doing with my money.  If I can judge by what you’ve done with my married life, I scarcely feel inclined to confide in you financially.”

“There is no use in going over that again,” he said patiently.  “We differ little from ordinary people, I fancy.  I think our house is as united as the usual New York domicile.  The main thing is to keep it so.  And in a time of some slight apprehension and financial uneasiness—­perhaps even of possible future stress—­you and I, for our own sakes, should stand firmly together to weather any possible gale.”

“I think I am able to weather whatever I am responsible for,” she said.  “If you do the same, we can get on as well as we ever have.”

“I don’t believe you understand,” he persisted, forcing a patient smile.  “All business in the world is conducted upon borrowed capital.  I merely——­”

“Do you need more capital?” she inquired, so bluntly that he winced.

“Yes, for a few months.  I may require a little additional collateral——­”

“Why don’t you borrow it, then?”

“There is no necessity if you will temporarily transfer——­”

“Can you borrow it?  Or is the ice in your trust company too rotten to stand the strain?”

He flushed darkly and the temper began to escape in his voice: 

“Has anybody hinted that I couldn’t?  Have you been discussing my personal business affairs with any of the pups whom you drag about at your heels?  No matter what your personal attitude toward me may be, only a fool would undermine the very house that——­”

“I don’t believe you understand, Jack,” she said quietly; “I care absolutely nothing about your house.”

“Well, you care about your own social status, I suppose!” he retorted sharply.