Vol. VI No. 1 - Modernist Magazines Project

A MOSAIQ
My first glance round the dining room was not encouraging. Near
my table was seated a group of three people, a man and two women of
nationality unknown, that is to say, the veneer was strange—the foundation
was evidently Semitic. The man was drab and oilyj he had a
pendulous nose, long, thin mouth and lustreless eyes. The women
were copiously hennaed with resilient nails and scarlet lipsj their cheeks
were white and the powder hung greasily to their thick, porous skins.
They were well dressed, but they looked as if they wore no stays. They
all three ate voraciously, bending down to meet their food with greedy,
expectant mouths. On the backs of their chairs, hung heavily embroidered
Chinese shawls. I must say, I hoped my adventure was not
connected with them.
On my right, were a fat and more comfortable pair—German, I
surmised. He had a short, grey beard and twinkling eyes; she was
rotund and tightly laced. They, too, enjoyed their dinner, but more
decorously, more solemnly. I rather liked the look of them. Presently
a tali and provocative woman came in. A lady? It was difficult to say.
She was fair, with beautifully brushed hair, exquisitely made-up face,
good jewels and simple clothes. I couldn't quite place her. She nodded
to one or two men, who were sitting by themselves, spoke a few words
to another woman, and then sat down, by herself, at a table by the
window. I wondered how long she would be alone. As my eyes
followed her across the room, two people came to the table next to me.
I did not notice them at first, but after a time, the man's compelling
stare attracted my attention. I guessed them to be husband and wife.
She was meticulously dressed in blue, her hair was red—of that fuzzy
texture that stands by itself—she had small, blue eyes with white
lashes, and a thin, tight mouth. She wore a small string of pearls
round her neck, and a turquoise ring on her little finger. She looked
possessive, suspicious, managing and slightly cross. I hated her at first
sight. I don't think she noticed me, in any case, she never glanced in
my direction. He was tall and thinj youngish, about thirty, with rather
a charming face. I suppose I stared at them longer than I should have,
but they interested me, and I wondered where they came from. I found
out later, by asking the hall porter, that they were Dutch, and that their
name was Van de Voorde. He kept staring at me all through the meal,
surreptitiously, when his wife wasn't looking. I finished my dinner
before they did, and went straight to my room.
79 p