Nielsen enjoyed her company. She was a splendid stimulant to his stimulant-craving mental system. After his recent intercourse with the every-day woman and the every-day man,--a monotonous gallery of drab souls--she was a touch of brilliant color. Her joy, animal spirit and fighting instinct enthralled him. She stimulated his imagination particularly and consequently brought him back to his old interest in his life and work. So he was trebly indebted to her.
Erna's greed had developed rapidly, and she had grown reckless in short order. Nielsen inspired her complete confidence. He did not take her too seriously, neither did he take her too lightly. This was just what she had craved so long. As a result, at the height of her confidence and his bantering comment, she allowed him to sit next to her, and they developed their further intimacy. For the present, she had forgotten Jimmy. He was physical and did not inspire her as Nielsen's human temperament did so easily and so quietly. Moreover, her Vitek blood had been excited.
Therefore, it was inside a natural sequence of happenings that Nielsen's arm stole about Erna's waist and that she submitted to the liberty. To tell the truth, Nielsen was decidedly under the influence of the wine in her nature and she under that in his.
"Isn't this wicked?" he questioned pleasantly.
Erna did not leave the Nielsen workshop until well after nine o'clock.
It was the following Monday noon. Breen and Nielsen were seated at the last table in Landsmann's rear dining room, eating and gossipping. "Gretchen!" called the former.
"So you think you'll be able to finish your story?" Breen questioned.
"I think so," was Nielsen's thoughtful response. "I've found the missing link."
"But is any story ever finished?" Breen protested. "Can't you always find room for additional installments?"
Not being in an argumentative mood, Nielsen quietly accepted his friend's criticism. Soon, they were both meditative. Gretchen brought the mocha tart and went away. Hers was a peace-loving temperament, in distinct contrast to Erna's, an opinion Breen expressed. Nielsen again accepted his criticism.
"After all," the artist added comfortably: "Erna was quite a study. I confess, she fooled me."