Jack looked out the window and then back to the quiet seclusion of the dining room.

“Do you mean she’s got under your skin? That you’re really interested in her?”

“Yes,” said Baldwin, “terribly.” His voice, too, was not quite under control.

“Good God!” muttered Jack. This was a cropper.

They were silent for several minutes.

“If there is anything I can do, old boy, just say the word,” Jack finally said, for he somehow felt responsible for this mess.

“You’ll think I’m crazy,” replied Wayne, “but I’ve been up in Harlem every night since we were there together. I hoped I’d see her again; but she seems to have disappeared. You know a lot of people up there; perhaps they could tell you her whereabouts. Tell you her name.”

“You could have found out that night, if you’d only asked the waiter.”

“Oh, but I couldn’t, Jack. I couldn’t think of anything. My mind was in a whirl. It must have been the liquor that brought it on. It certainly got on my nerves to see a woman like that fascinated by a big negro. Well, anyway, I must know more about it. I must see her, yes, and talk with her.”

Rather ashamed at his vehemence Wayne slumped down in his chair and then suddenly remembered a theater engagement that just had to be kept.

“Well, I’m glad that’s off my chest, Jack, and if you can help me find that goddess in ermine I’ll be no end grateful. It’s the only road back to sanity for me. So long, I’m really frightfully sorry that I have to abandon this conversation.”

After his friend had gone Jack wandered into the club library, and sinking into a deep-dished leather chair he murmured to himself over and over again, “So Wayne has fallen for Babe Gordon.”

When Baldwin left the club he felt happier than he had for days. He was glad that he had told Jack. It was a relief to talk things over with someone who would understand.

As for Babe, she had not been seen around the night clubs for some time. Her time away from the store was spent in Money Johnson’s apartment on Strivers’ Row. She insisted that he throw elaborate parties there. The kind of parties she wanted ran into big money. She spun Johnson around her finger until he was dizzy.