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Maud drew him closer and lowered her voice. "I don't suppose you have any news of Walter?"
Gus recalled the familiar-looking German officer he had seen fall at Chateau-Thierry, but he was far from certain that had been Walter, so he said: "Nothing, I'm sorry. It must be hard for you. "
"No information is coming out of Germany and no one is allowed to go there!"
"I'm afraid you may have to wait until the peace treaty is signed. "
"And when will that be?"
Gus did not know. "The league covenant is pretty much done, but they're a long way from agreement over how much Germany should pay in reparations. "
"It's foolish," Maud said bitterly. "We need the Germans to be prosperous, so that British factories can sell them cars and stoves and carpet sweepers. If we cripple their economy, Germany will go Bolshevik. "
"People want revenge. "
"Do you remember 1914? Walter didn't want war. Nor did the majority of Germans. But the country wasn't a democracy. The kaiser was egged on by the generals. And once the Russians had mobilized, they had no choice. "
"Of course I remember. But most people don't. "
The dance ended. Rosa Hellman appeared, and Gus introduced the two women. They talked for a minute, but Rosa was uncharacteristically charmless, and Maud moved away.
"That dress cost a fortune," Rosa said grumpily. "It's by Jeanne Lanvin. "
Gus was perplexed. "Didn't you like Maud?"
"You obviously do. "
"What do you mean?"
"You were dancing very close. "
Rosa did not know about Walter. All the same, Gus resented being falsely accused of flirting. "She wanted to talk about something rather confidential," he said with a touch of indignation.
"I bet she did. "
"I don't know why you're taking this attitude," Gus said. "You went off with that oily Greek. "
"He's very handsome, and not a bit oily. Why shouldn't I dance with other men? It's not as if you're in love with me. "
Gus stared at her. "Oh," he said. "Oh, dear. " He suddenly felt confused and uncertain.
"What's the matter now?"
"I've just realized something. . . I think. "
"Are you going to tell me what it is?"
"I suppose I must," he said shakily. He paused.
She waited for him to speak. "Well?" she said impatiently.
"I am in love with you. "
She looked back at him in silence. After a long pause she said: "Do you mean it?"
Although the thought had taken him by surprise, he had no doubt. "Yes. I love you, Rosa. "
She smiled weakly. "Just fancy that. "
