Divining what was coming, he was on his guard. "You were mentioned—naturally."
"And she told you things?"
"Some things."
"Some things about me that—that were new to you?"
"Yes; some things about you that were new to me."
"Did she tell you—everything?"
"I'm not in a position to say that it was everything; but—but I rather think it was. What of it?"
"Oh—only, that—that I'm as bad as she said I was. I—I wanted you to know that it was true."
The long stillness was broken only by a moan like that of a wounded monster from a ferryboat far away.
"Why do you want me to know that?" he asked, at length.