The Beautiful Blonde Liked Emeralds 105
exquisitely gowned, completely sure of herself, tapped Monsieur Gotin with her fan. "Comment vas-tu, Coco?" she said, addressing him familiarly.
"Ah, Margot, te voici," he replied, "I thought you were in the South of France with your sugar milhonaire. Is he tired of you or you of him? "
"Six
of one and half a dozen of the other," said she calmly. "Both of us
like variety. You know I tire of any man after a month. Tiens, who
is your young friend? I like the look of him. Why don't you introduce
him to me? You know my weakness for unspoiled youngsters."
With no very good grace he introduced us. I bowed. She took my hand in hers. "I hope we shall be very good friends," she said.
"Not
if I can help it," said Monsieur Gotin decidedly. "I am in charge of
this young man's morals. Besides, Margot, I must reveal to you that he
has no money to speak of and cannot pay for the luxuries you are
accusÂtomed to. He has to work for his living."
She
pouted her lips and acted like a child to whom a favour has been
denied. "With your permission," she said, and seated herself at our
table. It was then that I noticed more closely the jewels she was
wearing, a fine emerald ring, a fine golden chain round her neck which
supported a piece of filigree with another large emerald in the centre,
two emeralds in her ears. No other jewellery.
"Coffee?" asked Monsieur Gotin.
"A bottle of champagne," she said without hesitation.
"You shall have what you want, Margot," he shrugged,
