She looked up, her eyes, dark with pain, searched my face.

“Hello, gambler,” she said- “You had all the luck.”

I didn’t say anything.

She chewed her lip, frowned. “I want to talk to you.”

I pulled up a chair, sat down.

“You’d better take it easy,” I said. “You’ll need all your strength. You’re pretty ill, Lois.”

“I know it,” she said, her mouth twisting. “I’m through. But I wanted to see you before…”

“Okay, go ahead,” I said, waited.

“Men have been my bad luck,” she said, staring at the ceiling. “They all let me down except Juan. I was fond of Juan, Cain. I kind of went crazy when I lost him. But I should have left you alone. Evening things up isn’t my strong suit—not against you, anyway. You’re too lucky, Cain.”

“You haven’t done so badly,” I said. “You blew my home and business to hell. What more do you want?”