“I believe I got a drop or two myself. But then I don’t mind. It is true I am not a theosophist.”
At this, in indignation at herself, Leilah protested.
“Theosophy is primarily a school of good manners. In giving d’Arcy my glass, mine were detestable.”
Now they were on surer ground. Wickedly Violet winked.
“Nobody has any manners any more or, when they do, they have them in plenty and all of them bad.”
“If I have an excuse,” Leilah continued, “it is that Gulian drove me nearly demented.”
Now, Violet felt, they were getting at it. Mentally she girded herself and with an engaging appearance of sympathy, exclaimed:
“A man never does that unless he loves a woman to distraction.”
The sympathy, however feigned, did its work. After all, Leilah reflected, why should she not tell what she was about to do? On the impulse she turned.
“Violet, I offered Barouffski half my fortune to free me. His reply was a blow. Apart from that I have no grounds for a divorce, none at least which I can show. Previously there was something between Gulian and me. It has gone. He cares for me still and I care for him. Shortly he is to be here. For a long time I hesitated. But after last night—after the nights and days that preceded it!—it does not seem to me that I need hesitate any more.”