“I was so often tired ... of so many people, so many ghosts.... I couldn’t live like that now.”
“Yet you have remained a society-woman.”
“Oh, no, I am no longer that!”
And she told him how she had once thought of making her reappearance in Hague society; she told him about Van Naghel and Bertha.
“Are you on bad terms with your sister now?”
“Not on bad terms....”
“He died suddenly...?”
“Yes, quite suddenly. They had just had a dinner-party.... It was a terrible blow for my sister. And I hear there are serious financial difficulties. It is all very sad.... But this doesn’t interest you. Tell me about yourself.”
“Again?”
“It interests me.”