"She was married, too," Lee explained. "You will understand better when
you talk to Savina. We are not young feather-heads, Daniel; this is
serious, final. Really, we came to Cuba on your account, to see you.
When I tried to compose a telegram from Havana, telling you something
of the situation, I couldn't--all the idiotic tourists hanging about!
Well, here we are, or here I am, and Savina is upstairs, most anxious
to meet you."
"Certainly," Daniel Randon agreed. He was silent for a moment in the
consideration of what he had been told. Then, "I can't have you on the
batey," he pronounced. He lifted a silencing hand against an anger
forming in instant unmeasured speech. "Not for myself," he
particularized. "You could have seven mistresses, of all colors, if the
place were mine. Please remember that it isn't. It's the company's.
That is quite different." Daniel was making, Lee realized, what for him
was a tremendous conversational effort. "Even if I were alone, except
for Cubans, it would be possible; but there is Mr. Stribling, with his
wife and, at present, grown daughter, from Utica; he is the Assistant
Administrador. Then we have George Vincent and Katharine--the Chief
Engineer with a very new bride from, I believe, Ohio. They are very
particular in Ohio. And others. You must remember that I have a
photograph of Fanny with the children: it is much admired, well known.
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