Page 452 - tender-is-the-night

Tommy wanted a row: ‘There are several points—‘
‘Nicole and I will talk things over,’ said Dick equitably.
‘Don’t worry—I agree in principal, and Nicole and I under-
stand each other. There’s less chance of unpleasantness if we
avoid a threecornered discussion.’
Unwillingly acknowledging Dick’s logic, Tommy was
moved by an irresistible racial tendency to chisel for an ad-
vantage.
‘Let it be understood that from this moment,’ he said, ‘I
stand in the position of Nicole’s protector until details can
be arranged. And I shall hold you strictly accountable for
any abuse of the fact that you continue to inhabit the same
house.’
‘I never did go in for making love to dry loins,’ said
Dick.
He nodded, and walked off toward the hotel with Ni-
cole’s whitest eyes following him.
‘He was fair enough,’ Tommy conceded. ‘Darling, will we
be together to-night?’
‘I suppose so.’
So it had happened—and with a minimum of drama; Ni-
cole felt outguessed, realizing that from the episode of the
camphor-rub, Dick had anticipated everything. But also she
felt happy and excited, and the odd little wish that she could
tell Dick all about it faded quickly. But her eyes followed his
figure until it became a dot and mingled with the other dots
in the summer crowd.

452 Tender is the Night