"They don't interest me." He looked up at her. "What you've said has—simply—and completely—spoiled—my life," he said slowly.

"What I said?"

"Yes."

"What have—what could—what I—how—where—who is——" and she checked herself, eyes on his.

"Yes," he repeated with a curious sort of satisfaction, "you have spoiled my entire life for me."

"What an utterly—what a wildly absurd and impossible——"

"And you know it!" he insisted, with gloomy triumph.

"Know what?"

"That you've spoiled——"

"Stop! Will you explain to me how——"