Book1:TeDream-Maker

guestscameathispersonalrequest．Iwonderwhat’skeepinghim?"Dimitrikeptadiscreetsilencewhilesayingtohimself，

    "Ofcoursehe’te．He’sbeenturostoneandnolongerotakealeek.”

    14

    "I’mafraidhisabsencewilldampentheardorofthedonors.”

    “No,Idon’tthinkso,”saidDimitri．"I’msuretheywilttaintheirprojectedamountandmore.”

    "I’mnotasoptimisticasyouare,sir.”

    "Justwaitaheyeachotheraheirownway，theirreflesdisappearingfromthepolishedmirror．

    Thehallwaywasnotasdesertedasitwas．Ayoungmanwasusingthepublieatoneendandainglybeautifulwomaninapaleblue,daringly-cuteveninggownwassmokinginthelounge．Hergown,whichleftonedazzlingwhiteshoulderandarmbare,wassewedwithgoldthread．Shesatthere,legsgracefullycrossed,onehandholdingalightedcigarette，apictureofidece．ShemightbeanythingfromadissoluteharlottoaBohemianartist．AsDimitrisaunteredbyhersofa，hegncedcasuallyather．Theenteroftwopairsofeyescausedanunpretedimpactthatgavehisheartagreatjolt．Thatnobleforehead,finelychiseled,sadeyesdeepasapool，seemedhauntinglyfamiliar，buthecouldnotforthelifeofhimrememberwherehehadseenherorrecallwhichdreamshehadonceappearedin．Heheardsomeonecall，

    "el,eiinghasbegun!"Andtheyoungutouthercigarettebutt,stoodupandfollowedDimitriintotheballroom．

    ThemusichadstoppedandMegginnwasoform,speakingpassionatelyandpersuasivelyabouthercharity．ShethenthaheabsentMr．KaffeeforspthefunandthenannouncedheriionofdonatingalloftheonemilliondiventoherbyWorldBanktocharity．Enthusiasticappuseapaniedherbacktohertable,whereDimitristoodupgtosal