The Equinox (Volume I, Number V)

THE ORDEAL OF IDA PENDRAGON “ Ida Pendragon. But call me Poppy, because my lips are red, because I give sleep, and death ! " Α pause. “ And your name, nice boy?” " Edgar RollesAyou may call me Monkshood.” “ What—the Edgar Rolles ? ” “ As ever is." "Oh, they’ll hang you! They’ll certainly hang you! for that last book of yours. . . . But you shall hang here first.” Her long white fingers went to her neck, like a cuttle—fish feeling for its prey. Her eyes closed: her throat worked convulsively for a moment. Rolles too leaned back, pale with excitement. He drank the fresh air. Then, like a man shot, he lifted himself and fell forward, his head in the nest of her bosom. “ Please sit up and behave sensibly, Mr Rolles ! " was the next word that fell on his ears. “ We are crossing the Seine. Passion may not pass the gloomy river ; here stalks Vice, and the Englishman on its heels. The very coffee sent son Anglais." " Et les femmes," muttered Edgar. She slapped his hand half fiercely. “ It's Poster Art of immorality.” ”I remember going with an American girl to the Guignol once. They played a comedy one could have acted in a Sunday—school in Glasgow; but Verro-nika, as they called her, who didn’t understand a word of French, said the atmosphere was one of the most awful lust. Poor girl ! she had paid a lot to see Yurrup and its wickedness. I had not the heart to undeceive her.” “ You sympathised, and offered to take her away ? " 121