17. On the morning of the day following this talk with Mrs. Julian, Dr. Touchon called Mme. Storey on the telephone. I switched the call to her desk and then listened in, as she had instructed me to do.
"Beautiful Rosika," he said in his exotic fashion, "how does your effulgence do to-day?"
"Nicely, thanks," she said with a little crinkle of mockery in her voice.
"Is that confounded red-headed Bella listening in?" he said.
"I don't know, I'm sure."
"Please tell her to keep off."
There was a pause, then Mme. Storey's voice saying sweetly: "All right, I've told her. Fire away!"
"If she's still listening," he said, "let her take warning that she will hear no good of herself. I am tired of having her around."
I smiled without humour into the transmitter. I entirely reciprocated his fee
