"For God's sake, clear this up," he begged. "Haven't you anything to say?"
"A great deal, Paul. But first tell me what that woman said about me."
"You heard."
"But what else?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing!" The thing was incredible.
"Only that you'd probably be glad to explain things yourself."
At that half her burden fell. Stella's cunning had overreached itself. She had thought to rack her victim most by forcing her to betray herself, but she had reasoned from the false premise that Jean had a truly shameful past to conceal.
"Glad," she repeated. "Yes, I am glad. I should have told you some day, Paul. It's a long story."
The door opened to admit a caller with a swollen jowl.