The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-06
CHAPTER 7-BRUNEL GIVES A
PARTY

Brunei gave a great garden party, a
bal masque, in the grounds of his beau
tiful house behind the Champs Elysees.
This bal masque was an institution in
the Partisan theatrical world, and an
evidence of the largeness of Brunel's
complex character. 1t opened always
at 1 o'cloc kin the morning, after the
theatres were closed, and It continued
until pale dawn lifted light across the
eastern horizon. To it went everybody
and anybody connected with the theatre.
Like the Quartz Arts ball, exclusively
attended by the artistic profession and
yet open to all who graced that pro-
fession, this bal masque of Brunel's was
for those of the theatre and all those
Of the theatre. They all went--from
the highest to the lowest-and the most
brilliant star in the Partisan armament
rubbed shoulders with the humblest
figurante during those few hours of
hectic gaiety. Brunei held open house
that night, and there were those who
declared that it was more valuable to
him than many thousands of francs
worth of ordinary advertisement.
1t was the privilege of few outside
the profession to be invited to attend,
and among these was Mordac. He, with
characteristic self assurance, extended
the invitation to Kendrick one night in
Lolette's' dressing room. They were
talking, he, Lolettte and Kendrick,
about the ball, and Mordac said: you
should come along Kendrick. Brunei
would be charmed, am sure. But
he smiled--"you must bring a lady.
That is the unwritten law" He looked
at Lolette. Monsieur Kendrick is out
rageously austere. He apparently fails
to perceive how much nicer is nice
dinner when a beautiful face looks at
one across the table"
Kendriek laughed. "Oh-I'm not so
bad as that. But-well, you know how
lit is. One gets to know SO few people
in a strange city. If it hadn't been for
the count"-he was addressing Lolette
II should have been very much alone,
I'm afraid"
Lolette smiled. "But you will come
to the ball, monsieur? 1t is jolly-lots
Of go-pouf! From o'clock till dawn
great fun-all lights and music and
champagne, pretty girls, fancy dress,
and the unmasking when the night ends.
You must come. And we will find you
girl. There are lots of them, pretty
ones, in the theatre"
Elsie had heard it all. and her heart
had lifted with something ridiculously
akin to pride when Mordac had re-
marked on what he was pleased to term
Hendricks outrageous austerity. That
was how Kendrick would be, she
thought And yet now-she was just
little unhappy-they were going to
find pretty girl for him, and drag him
off to the wild orgy which Brunei called
his bal masque.
He was answering Toilette, and she
strained her ears for his words.
I'm very glad to come" he said,
land 1 appreciate your kindness in in
viting me but i won't ask you to find
me a partner" Perhaps he had seen
that look Lelette had given Elise when
first she discovered him in conversa-
ton with her, perhaps, because he had
seen it and had watched them both, he
had noticed other things-the smoul-
dering enmity, the growing hate-and
had a whimsical desire to fling LO-
lette's invitation back at her as some
payment for that hate; or perhaps ii
was just because Elise was a beautiful
girl who appealed to him. But he
turned to her and said with the grace
courtesy she had come to know so well
''Madamoiselle, would you honor
me?"
1t was the great invitation, and Elise
stayed breathless for an appreciable
space, while Toilette glared and Nor.
dac stood by smiling quietly, his eye
brows lifted the slightest bit.
She could not refuse. She knew that
She must go with him-whatever il
must snatch these hours of joy in his
might mean for her afterwards. She
leompany-she must
Thank you, minsieur. l shall be
pleased"
He smiled in satisfied way. That's
settled, then. And, to Lolette and
Mordac, II have my partner, you see
and well come along and have a real
good time"
"of course" said Mordac quietly
and added, as though to warn Lolette
against any Outburst she might be con.
templating: IAN the theatre is wei
come at Bruners on that night--all."
Toilette leaned back, cooled suddenly
Her eyes, were almost invisibles Shl