Out of the Past — page 77: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

74 Out of the Past. rose in confusion. “Tiens! how startled you are. But I am not one of them and I didn’t say it of course— though I might want to. But let us be sensible as these cold creatures are. Our profession makes us too emo- tional. Sit down and talk‘to me as these people do.” Robert was growing nervous. Did she think St. Ce- cilia and Terpsichore visited in the same circles? He knew that she was shockingly beautiful and that most of the men would tell her so in one way or another. But he did not propose to, although he was uncomfortably sensi- ble of the fact. While he was trying to think of some subject of mutual interest, Jean d’Escarte hurried up to whisper to him: “Don’t waste time here. Come, let me take you to Miss Lloyd; she has asked for you.” Robert started to his feet. ‘“Here—in this room?” “Yes. My mother met her at the American Ambassa- dor’s on the Fourth and she is to play for us to-night. She has asked for you.” Robert remembered his surroundings sufficiently to bow with a murmured apology and followed the direction of Jean’s nod. “Another début,” he thought. “I hope Miss Lloyd is not nervous. I wish they would let me play in her stead EONNIEOOOKKS (E(@)