It
had tremendous glass eyes, larger even than the cousin's from
Guatemala, and they shone with a hypnotic intensity that was
disturbing. Kirk wanted to kick it and cry "Scat!" Hidden in other
desolate quarters of the room were similar studies in animal life.
These anomalous surroundings by turns depressed him and provoked
an insane desire to laugh.
What he ever talked about during that evening he never quite
remembered. At one time the Cholo girl who had admitted him
entered noiselessly, bearing silver plates of fruit, and shortly
afterward he found himself trying to balance upon his knee a plate
of pineapple soaked in spice and wine, a fork, a napkin starched
as stiffly as a sheet of linoleum, and a piece of cake which
crumbled at a look. It was a difficult bit of juggling, but he
managed to keep one or two of the articles in the air almost
continuously.
When it came time to leave he expected at least to be allowed a
farewell word or two with Gertrudis, but instead he was bowed out
as ceremoniously as he had been bowed in, and, finding himself at
last in the open, sighed with relief. He felt like a paroled
prisoner, but he thought of the girl's glance of sympathy and was
instantly consoled. He crossed slowly to the Plaza, pausing a
moment for a good-night look at the house, then, as he turned, he
caught a glimpse of a figure slinking into the shadows of the
side-street, and smiled indulgently.
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