"Excuse me being so clumsy," said Tommy contritely. "Another time." And
she waved her cigarette to the waiter in demand for the bill.

It was after the orchestra had finished a tango, and while Tommy was
examining the bill, that the first violin and leader, in a magenta coat,
approached the table, and with a bow offered his violin deferentially to
Musa. Many heads turned to watch what would happen. But Musa only shrugged
his shoulders and with an exquisite gesture of refusal signified that he
had to leave. Whereupon the magenta coat gracefully retired, starting a
Hungarian dance as he went.

"Musa is supposed to be the greatest violinist in Paris--perhaps in the
world," Tommy whispered casually to Audrey. "He used to play here, till
Dauphin discovered him."

Audrey, overcome by this prodigious blow, trembled at the contemplation of
her blind stupidity.

Beyond question, Musa now looked extremely important, vivid, masterful. She
had been mistaking him for a nice, ornamental, useless boy.



CHAPTER X

FANCY DRESS


Just as the café-restaurant had been an intensification of ordinary life,