Book1:TeDream-Maker (第147/166页)

nsparentgssroof,takingwithhimthecolorfulbrightnessofdayandleavingbehindthedarknessofnighttotheworld．Butontheway,hescatteredhandfulsoftwinklingstarsintothesky,likeafarmersowingseedsinthefields．

    Thebrilliantstarstwinkledandgleamedzealously,likevivaciousguestsatagrandball．Thebeige-coloredcar,carryingitsbeautifulmistressandthatmysteriouspersonage，passeduhem．Theoldcarchuggedbravelyon，puffinglikeatiredjoggerandMegginnsaidinalowvoice，

    "Sorry,myoldfriend．Iknowyou’retiredtoday，butIneedyoutomakeonemoreroundtripforus．Ipromisenottosteponthegassoyouwooostressedout．I’mreallysorry,myoldfriend.”Dimitrismiledandwatchedsilentlyasthegenerousgirltalkedcozilywithheroldfriehoughtthatherprofoundknowledgeoffinances,especiallyherfamiliaritywithhisbusinessmethodscouldbeofgreatusetohiminthemaofhisKingdom．Onhispart，hecouldrealizeherfodreamsofcharity．Butmostcrucialofallwashergenerousheart．Soon,thecarcametothebridgeandtheycrossedovertotheothersideoftheBay．

    Whewoofthemeheballroom,alleyeswereattractedbythemagicbeautyofMegginn，earingalow-cut，bcksilkeveninggownwithtwothinribbonasstraps．Asparklingdiamondneckceadornedhergraceful，swan-likenedasilver-foxwasflungwithstudiedcarelessnessoverhershoulders,exhibitingnoblebearingsandeleganendearingsmilewasalwaysonherlips．Herpanionwasamiddle-agedman，impeccablydressedinanexpeandbcktie，wearingasafarihatmadeofthesamemateriashissuit．Ofcourse,thatwasDimitri．Asheseldomappearedinpublic,hewasastrahepany,whichbuzzediionastohisidentity．Gohezyindolehehomelessperson．Hewasclothedindignifiedsilewhatlittlehesaidcarriedweight，exuberatinganauraoftrustworthinessandreliability．Theywerete．Theballhadalreadybeguheywereledtotheirreservedtablehedanegginnwasquicklyiodaallyoungman，well-builtandwell-dressed．Dimitri，whosereclusivenaturedislikedsocialfuns，feltilteaseatthecuriousghatcamehisway．Smilingandnoddingimpartiallyanddistantlyseemedtobethebestresort．

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    Theroomwasdimlylit，buthiseyesroamedaroundthepce，thesparkleofthediamondsandpreciousgemsoringthediesaroundhim，flickeredandshonelikethestarstwinklinginthedarksky．Waitressesinminiskirts,exposingtheirlusciousfigures，madetheirwaytoandfroamoables,refreshmentsandtakingorders．Bar-tendersbusybehindtheirters,wereskillfullyoperatingtheirbodiesinprecisemovements．Aslightlyintoxicatedmiddie-agedman,airofupwardtiltingmustaches,abulkypouchofastomach,wasbusysocializing．Hisawkward,ientsashegotupfromhisseattogreetfriendsandacquaintances，shakehandsandchataffablybeforesittingdownagain，gaveoheimpressionofaja-the-box．AwaitresspassingbyDimitri’stableactallydroppedherorderpadathisfeetandhesmiledatherquandary,forhamperedbyhertight-fittingminiskirt，shecouldn’tbenddowntopickitup．However,shebentonekneeinagracefulcurtsey,keepingherbodyerect，pickedupherpadandsmiledtriumphantlyathimsaying，"Sorrytobotheryou，sir.”Dimitrireturnedhersmile．Megginncamebacktothetable,onlytobewhiskedawaytothedanceflainandagain;herbeautyandgoodnaturemadehertheidealpartnerfortheyouhere．

    TimeflewbyasDimitrisurveyedhissurroundings．Thebandpye