"Is it possible?... He?... And you allowed him to do it?... Well!... Well!..."
Sereja could not get over it He tried to catch sight of Malva's face, and made a mocking grimace.
"If I had liked I could have prevented him! she replied angrily.
"How's that?"
"I wouldn't defend myself!"
"You care for him then as much as that; that old grey cat?" said Sereja, puffing out a mouthful of smoke. "Here's a nice business! And I, who thought you were worth more than that!"
"I don't care for any of you!" she replied in a voice that had recovered its indifference, and brushing the smoke away with her hand.
"You are lying, I bet anything."
"Why should I lie?" she asked.
And by the ring in her voice Sereja recognized that she had no reason to lie.