Читать книгу Gay Life - Edmée Elizabeth Monica Dashwood - Страница 17
(4)
ОглавлениеThe rickety gate of the shaky little lift clanged on a shrill, uncertain note as Coral Romayne stepped out of it.
It clanged again as Angie Moon slammed it, and pressed the button that should take her up a floor higher.
Coral, yawning, and unfastening hooks with one hand, hung for a moment over the banisters. She could see Buckland and young Moon coming up the stairs, not talking, Hilary walking ahead.
"Good-night," she called.
They looked up.
"Good-night," said Hilary. He sounded rather surly.
Coral trailed very slowly along the passage towards the door of her own room at the far end of it. She heard Hilary's steps, on the marble, going up higher. Then Buckland's heavy tread, pausing on the top step. She did not turn round.
In another moment, she heard him following her down the long passage. Timing herself carefully, she allowed him to catch up with her just as she reached the bedroom door.
"Got all you want?" he asked casually.
"I expect so. Don't wait for me to-morrow morning. I shall have breakfast up here."
"All right."
She had opened her door, and he was half in and half out of the room.
"That yellow thing you've got on looks marvellous. It suits you too terribly well."
He fingered the filmy stuff that hung at her breast.
"Shut up, Buck—you'll wake the hotel, and make a scandal. Good-night."
"Good-night—Coral."
He took hold of her by the shoulders.
"What's up?"
"Nothing. Go to bed."
"Aren't you going to say good-night to me?"
"How much would you mind if I didn't?"
"A lot more than you think."
"Liar!"
Coral freed herself, and pushed him away with both hands. He resisted, and for a moment they swayed together in a laughing struggle. Then Coral abruptly stood still and said: "Hark! What was that?"
Somewhere a door had shut softly.
"I didn't hear anything," said Buckland, without much conviction.
"I did. Good-night."
She shut her door in his face, and after a second's hesitation he turned away and went upstairs.
