"Charles L. Harness - The Rose" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harness Charles L)

"You're right," she whispered, half to him, half to some other part of her, listening, watching. "I do want
you to hold me in your arms and think me beautiful. But you can't, because you don't love me. It won't
work. Not here. Here, I'll prove it."

As from miles and centuries away, she heard Grade's horrified gurgle.

But her trance held. She entered the embrace of Ruy Jacques, and held her face up to his as much as her
spine would permit, and closed her eyes.

He kissed her quickly on the forehead and released her. "There! Cured!"

She stood back and surveyed him thoughtfully. "I wanted you to see for yourself, that nothing can be
beautiful to youтАФat least not until you learn to regard someone else as highly as you do Ruy Jacques."

Bell had drawn close. His face was wet, gray. He whispered: "Are you two insane? Couldn't you save
this sort of thing for a less crowded occasion?"

But Anna was rolling rudderless in a fatalistic calm. "I had to show him something. Here. Now. He might
never have tried it if he hadn't had an audience. Can you take me home now?"

"Worst thing possible," replied Bell agitatedly. "That'd just confirm Martha's suspicions." He looked
around nervously. "She's gone. Don't know whether that's good or bad. But Grade's watching us. Ruy, if
you've got the faintest intimations of decency, you'll wander over to that group of ladies and kiss a few of
them. May throw Martha off the scent. Anna, you stay here. Keep talking. Try to toss it off as an
amusing incident." He gave a short strained laugh. "Otherwise you're going to wind up as the First Martyr
in the Cause of Art."

"I beg your pardon, Dr. van Tuyl."

It was Grade. His voice was brutally cold, and the syllables were clipped from his lips with a
spine-tingling finality.

"Yes, Colonel?" said Anna nervously.

"The Security Bureau would like to ask you a few questions."

"Yes?"

Grade turned and stared icily at Bell. "It is preferred that the interrogation be conducted in private. It
should not take long. If the lady would kindly step into the model's dressing room, my assistant will take
over from there."

"Dr. van Tuyl was just leaving," said Bell huskily. "Did you have a coat, Anna?"

With a smooth unobtrusive motion Grade unsnapped the guard on his hip holster. "If Dr. van Tuyl leaves
the dressing room within ten minutes, alone, she may depart from the studio in any manner she pleases."

Anna watched her friend's face become even paler. He wet his lips, then whispered. "I think you'd better
go, Anna. Be careful."