She gazed at him through her tears as if in surprise.
“Dick, I never thought you could be like this,” she said.
“Like what? What’s all the fuss about?” he exclaimed irritably.
“I always thought you were really a brute.”
“That showed your sound judgment.”
“How can you take it like this? Your masterpiece—ruined! For you’ll never do anything like it again.”
“That’s probably gospel truth. My girl, you are standing in front of my epitaph on the Cafe Royal. There it is. Look well at it! I’ve buried my past, and I’m going to start again. And who do you think is to be my next victim?”
“Who?”
“You’ll never guess—a gentleman!”
“A gentleman? What do you mean, Dick? The word has gone out.”