"Let me express my sympathy," she said, sweetly.
"Your sympathy!" he said, coldly; for he did not like her. "I do not understand you, Miss Morton."
"Yes," she cooed. "I am sure I can vouch for Cleo that she never dreamed he would take it so seriously. I was with them on the voyage out, you know, and indeed Cleo often said the passengers were dull. He cheered her up, and—and——"
"Really, Miss Morton, I am at a loss to understand you," he said, curtly.
Fanny Morton showed her colors. There was no suggestion of sweetness in her voice now.
"I mean that every one knows that Mr. Takashima killed himself because he was in love with Miss Ballard; because she let him believe on the boat that she reciprocated his—affection, and the night of the ball she told him the truth. He killed himself, they say, hardly an hour after he had seen her."
Jenny Davis stood right at the back of them. She had heard the woman's venomous words, but was powerless to refute them. Sinclair felt her eyes fixed on him with an entreaty that was pitiful.
He raised his hat to Fannie Morton.
"I will wish you good morning," he said, cuttingly, and that was all.
Then he turned to the other woman.