The Equinox (Volume I, Number VI)

THE EQUINOX “Then let me pay! I want to pay for your lunch." “You shall have a great treat, Joe! I have a friend and his girl coming, too. You shall pay for all of us.” The negro beamed. " Ida Pendragonl " he spluttered. “ I love you, Ida Pendragon." “ And Ida Pendragon loves her leopard. Now leave me.” She glanced round. They were alone in the gallery. “ You may kiss the back of my neck, if you like." The negro buried his head between her shoulders. She shivered ; her hair hissed under his kiss. She writhed round, and gave her mouth to his for one clinging moment. Then she pushed herself away, and he, poor troubled animal, went swiftly and sleekly from the room. At the corner he staggered. The girl saw it; her smile was like sheet lightning. A quarter of a mile away, at that moment, Edgar Rolles was tearing the edges from a " petit bleu." “I am paying the penalty,” he read. " Lunch with me at Lavenue’s at one to—morrow. Bring a girl." “ Right,” said he. “ But I wonder what she means.” And he strolled out to the Döme to find good-hearted Ninon, “ la grande hystérique " of the Quarter, half—mad and wholly amorous, half gamine and half great lady, satiated and un- satisfied indeed, but innocent withal. La Dame de Mont- parno they called her; she dominated her surroundings without effort. Yet none could analyse or explain the fascination to which all surrendered. She had more friends than lovers, and no one ever told a lie about her, or let her want for anything. She welcomed the invitation with joy. " Ida Pendragon l " 136