"Because, although they do it in popular fiction, men like Sprowl never really boast of their successes. His sort keep silent—when there's anything to conceal."
"Did he boast?"
"He did. I was sure he was lying, and I—" he shrugged.
"Told him so?"
"Well, something of that sort."
"I believe he was lying, too.... It was just like that romantic little fool to run off to Reno after nothing worse than the imprudence of infatuation. I've known her a long while, Rix. She's too shallow for real passion, too selfish to indulge it anyway. His name and fortune did the business for her—little idiot. Really she annoys me."
Quarren smiled: "Her late husband seems to like her. Fools feminine have made many a man happy. You'll be nice to her I'm sure."
"Of course.... Everybody will on Mrs. Sprowl's account."
Quarren laughed again, then:
"Meanwhile this Ledwith business has prevented my talking to Strelsa over the telephone," he said.