“But they do,” I reminded her.
“I mean socially,” cried she. “Can’t I make you understand? Why are business men so dumb at anything else? Compel these people to take me as one of them.”
“Now, Edna, my dear,” protested I, “be reasonable. How can I do that?”
“Easily, if you’ve got real power,” rejoined she. “It’s been done often, I’ve found out lately. At least half the leaders in society got in originally by compelling it. But you, going round among men intimately—you must know it—must have known all along. If you’d been the right sort of man I’d not have to humiliate myself by asking you—by saying these dreadful things.” Her eyes were flashing and her bosom was heaving. “Women have hated men for less. But I must bear my cross. You insist on degrading me. Very well. I’ll let myself be degraded. I’ll say the things a decent man would not ask a woman to say——”
“Edna, darling,” I pleaded. “Honestly, I don’t understand. You’ll have to tell me. And it’s not degrading. We have no secrets from each other. We who love each other can say anything to each other—anything. What do you wish me to do?”
“Use your power over the men. Frighten them into ordering their wives to invite us and to accept our invitations. You do business with a lot of the men, don’t you?”
“Yes,” said I.
“You can benefit or injure them, as you please, can’t you?—can take money away from them—can put them in the way of making it?”
“Yes,” said I; “to a certain extent.”
“And how do you use this power?”