CHAPTER XXXIII
The next day they met for dinner at a little place near Washington Squarewhere it was certain that none of Julia's friends ever went. Julia was asingularly contented-looking criminal. Never, Ramon thought had her skinlooked more velvety, her eyes deeper or more serene. He was a triflehaggard, but happy, and both of them were hungry.
"Do you know?{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} I've made a discovery," she told him. "I haven't anyconscience. I slept peacefully nearly all day, and when I waked up Iconsidered the matter carefully {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} I don't believe that I have any properappreciation of the enormity of what I've done at all. I have alwaysthought that if anything like this ever happened to me I would go off andchloroform myself, but as a matter of fact I have no such intention {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} ofcourse, though, it was not my fault in the least. You're so terrible!{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Isimply couldn't help myself, and I don't see what I can do now {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} that'scomforting. But one thing is certain. We've got to be awfully careful.Thank Heaven, mother and Gordon are still in Florida and they won't dareto come North on Gordon's account until it gets a good deal warmer. But wemust be careful. I'm not sorry, like I should be, but I sure am scared.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}"
They sat for a long time after the meal, Ramon smoking a cigar, theirknees touching under the table. He was filled with a vast contentment. Hethought nothing of the troubled past, nor did he look into the obviouslytroubled future. He merely basked in the consciousness of a possessioninfinitely sweet.
Now began for them a life of clandestine adventure. Julia had a good manyengagements, but she managed to give him some part of every day. Theynever met in the hotel, but usually took taxicabs separately and met inout-of-the-way parts of that great free wilderness of city. Ramon spentmost of the time when he was not with her exploring for suitable meetingplaces. They became patrons of cellar restaurants in Greenwich Village, ofFrench and Italian places far down town, of obscure Brooklyn hotels. Ifthe regular fare at these establishments was not all they desired, Ramonwould lavishly bribe the head waiter, call the proprietor intoconsultation if necessary, insist on getting what Julia wanted. He spenthis money like a millionaire, and usually created the general impressionthat he was a wealthy foreigner. Every morning he had flowers sent toJulia's room. Often they would take a taxi and spend hours riding aboutthe streets with the blinds drawn, locked in each others' arms.
For a week they were keenly, excitedly happy, living wholly in the joy ofthe moment. Then a flaw appeared upon the glowing perfect surface of theirhappiness.
"When is your husband coming back?" he enquired once, when they wereriding through Central Park.
"I don't know. In a week or two. Why?"
"Because we must decide pretty soon what we're going to do."
"Do? What can we do?"
"We must decide where we're going. You must go with me somewhere. I'm notgoing to let you get away from me again {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} not even for a little while."
"But Ramon, how can we? I'm married. I can't go anywhere with you.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}"
He seized her fiercely by the shoulders and held her away from him,looking into her eyes.
"Don't you love me, then?" he demanded.
"Ramon! You know I do!"
"Then you'll go. We can go to Mexico City, or South America {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} I'll sellout at home.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}"
"O, Ramon {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} I can't. I haven't got the courage. Think of the fuss it wouldraise. And it would kill Gordon, I know it would.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}"
"Damn Gordon!" he exclaimed, "he's not going to get in the way again!You're mine and I'm going to keep you. You will go. I'll take you!"
He had seized her in his arms, was holding her furiously tight. She puther arms around him, caressed his face with soft fluttering hands.
"Please, Ramon! Please don't make me miserable. Don't spoil the onlyhappiness I ever had! I will go with you if ever I can, if I can get adivorce or something. But I can't run off like that. I haven't got it inme {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} please let me be happy!"
Her touch and her voice seemed to overcome his determination, seemed tosheer him of his strength. Weaker she was than he, but her charm was herpower. It dragged him away from his thoughts and purposes, binding him toher and to the moment.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} She drew his head down to her breast, found hislips with hers and so effectively cut his protests short.
The Blood of the Conquerors Page 38