“Yes,” and the other's voice was broken. “I may as well give up now as later. If anything can be saved out of the wreck—my wreck—go to it! Shoot, kid! Tell the worst! I'll stand the gaff!”
“Well, that makes it easier,” resumed Blossom. “We were going to be married, but she got in with a fast crowd, and I couldn't stand the pace. I admit, I wasn't sport enough.”
“I'm glad you weren't,” murmured Minnie, her breast heaving.
“The result was,” went on Blossom, “that she and I separated. It was as much her wish as mine—toward the end. And she married a Frenchman with whom she seemed to be fascinated.”
“Yes, he sure had me hypnotized,” agreed the blonde woman. “It was more my fault than yours, Lee. Perhaps if you'd taken a whip to me, and made me behave—Some of us women need a beating now and then. But it's too late now.” Of a sudden she seemed strangely subdued.
LeGrand Blossom went on with the sordid tale.
“Well, the marriage didn't turn out happily. It was—”
“It was hell! I'm not afraid to use the word!” interrupted the blonde. “It was just plain, unadulterated hell! And I went into it with my eyes open. That's what it was—hell! I've had such a lot here on earth that maybe they'll give me a discount when I get—well, when I get where I'm going!” and she laughed, but there was no mirth in it.
Minnie shuddered, and drew nearer to LeGrand. And it did not seem to be because of the chill night wind, either.
“It was the same old story,” went on the clerk. “No need of going over that, Minnie. It doesn't concern the question now. In the end the Frenchman cast her off, and she had to live, somehow. She came to me, and I, for the sake of old times, agreed to help her. I didn't think I was doing anything wrong; but it seems I was. I thought the rare and expensive book publishing business she said she was in was legitimate. Instead it was—”