"You aren't in any real scrape," Vida said, thinking of herself.
"I know, but I keep feeling I am. It's probably because I'm tired and I'm sick of winter. Anyway, the show closes a week from Saturday, and I'm going out tonight with Nino. Maybe that's what I need. He's the nicest man I know. I'll be sorry when he goes back to Europe. I never feel I've wasted an evening when I've been with him and let me tell you that's something you can't say about many men."
"You can say that again."
"I got two other girls to replace Nell and Jean who are going to Chicago with the show. So, I'm all set. I only hope you stay at Ilona's until after the recital. I wouldn't know what to do if I couldn't count on you."
"You know you always can."
"Well, let's cheer ourselves up if we can. We forgot the champagne. I'll get some ice. This weather is driving me batty."
Chapter 32
SOMEONE TO TALK TO
"April showers bring May flowers," said Lucy handing Figente a bunch of moist arbutus.
He was propped in bed recuperating from a kidney ailment. It was the first week in April and Lucy, preoccupied with preparations for her recital, had not visited him in weeks. He looked awful, she thought, like a melting candle. She glanced around the room. Maybe it seemed gloomy because it was so dark and thundery outside. "This room is more restful than the other two ways you've had it in the past four years but that big black cross makes it churchy," she observed.
"All Italian bedrooms and, for that matter, French and Spanish, have the Cross, as you will discover if you become a Marquesa," Figente said with asperity.
She looked at him open-lipped. "Who told you that?"
"Oh, I hear things! I hope this time you will be sensible. I rather
