"Well," he exclaimed, "I hadn't heard the good news. How's Paul."
So she was married. And had kept it secret. He smiled. He remembered other scenes in the room. The doors locked. Her arms around him. All that was over now. Before her motherhood, even the memory of it seemed less certain.
"There is no good news," she was saying. "I've come to see if you can help me."
They sat down. Basine nodded. Money. Poor girl. Schroder was always an ass about things.
"He's gone away," she went on. "And ... and I'd like to locate him."
"Who?"
"Paul."
She covered her face. So he had deserted her. And she had come back to him. A momentary excitement entered his thought. But he frowned immediately. It was distasteful to think of what might have been if ... not for this.
An amazement came into his eyes. He stared at her as she talked. She had been ruined by Schroder and he had never married her. And when she had refused medical interference he had calmly left the city. He listened blankly and could think of nothing to say.
"Oh George, you must help me."