Chapter 48

“Well, I don’t want to be painted,” said Valancy. “I hope you told him that.” “I couldn’t tell him that. I didn’t know what _you_ wanted. But I told him _I_ didn’t want my wife painted—hung up in a salon for the mob to stare at. Belonging to another man. For of course I couldn’t buy the picture. So even if you had wanted to be painted, Moonlight, your tyrannous husband would not have permitted it. Tierney was a bit squiffy. He isn’t used to being turned down like that. His requests are almost like royalty’s.” “But …