"Literature, however, is used as a bridge." Figente smiled.
I wish, Vida thought crossly, she wouldn't treat me as a child. I'm almost half a year older than she is.
The door opened and she saw the butler stand stiff and announce with what seemed to her ludicrous theatricality: "Mrs. Custerd and Mr. Ranna."
A corseted double dumpling in a plumed hat, rattling with pearls and golden chains, billowed in.
"We're late, Raymond, but it couldn't be helped," said Susan Custerd, breathing heavily, "Ranna meditates from four to five. You know Hindus are so much more spiritual than we of the gross West. You simply must do something for this boy, I tell you he is a genius!"
From behind her looming bulk there appeared as if conjured to her side a slender young god who, bringing his palms neatly together under his chin, bowed a somewhat largish head in unctuous greeting.
Coffee with cream, my favorite color, Lucy approved, and as his head raised and discreet sloe eyes met hers she tingled pleasantly. What beautiful long, but not too long, black hair.
A lady killer, disapproved Figente as Hal appraised the potentialities, but the dark fascinating man didn't notice him at all.
Susan Custerd, observing Ranna's exchange with the prettyish blonde girl, undoubtedly one of Figente's peculiar acquaintances, hustled the Hindu dancer off to get into his costume.
"No, no, Raymond, Ranna will have tea later. Artists must have an empty stomach. I'll have two lumps, please. How is Alice and her family?"
Figente reflected on the state of his sister, husband, and their three teen-age children, all in perpetual training for horse shows. "Healthy as horses as usual."
Mrs. Custerd disentangled the jeweled gold chain of her lorgnette from the pearls, let it dangle into the folds of lace on her bosom, and said to Lucy, "And what do you do, my dear?"
"Lucy is the world's greatest ballerina," Figente answered.
Vida felt she was catching on to Figente. He was baiting Mrs. Custerd just as he had in addressing her as Miss Boswell. It was his manner, making extravagant statements, in this case going Mrs. Custerd's Ranna one better. Lucy was on to him too, but it was impressive how he made such a statement as if it were an incontrovertible fact.
