had chosen to ignore his astonishing and humiliating experience and
always treated Madeleine with exaggerated deference, called one
afternoon on her (in company with Mrs. Ballinger) and observed
cigarette ends in the ash tray. Talbot smoked only cigars. Masters
was one of the few men in San Francisco who smoked cigarettes and
there was no mistaking his imported brand. Mr. Travers paid an
immediate round of visits, and called again a fortnight later, this
time protected by Mrs. Abbott. There were several books on the table
which he happened to know Masters had received within the week.

When the new wave reached Mrs. McLane she announced angrily that all
the gossip in San Francisco originated in the Union Club, and refused
to listen to details. But she was anxious, nevertheless, for she knew
that Madeleine, whether she recognized the fact or not, was in love
with Langdon Masters, and she more than suspected that he was with
her. He went little into society, even before his mother's death,
pleading press of work, but Mr. McLane often brought him home quietly
to dinner and she saw more of him than any one did but Madeleine. Men
had gone mad over her in her own time and she knew the stamp of
baffled passions.

It was on New Year's Day, during Masters' absence in Richmond, that
an incident occurred which turned Society's attention, diverted for
the moment by an open divorce scandal, to Madeleine Talbot once more.




XIX