"She sold herself to a man she didn't love. She's to blame for—"
"The older I grow," Forbes interposed, "the less I feel that people deserve either blame or praise for being what they are or doing what they do."
"Don't waste your pity on her; she had none for you."
"It's not pity—it's—"
Tait clapped his hand to his left side and choked back a cry of distress. Forbes turned to him with an exclamation of alarm. "You ought to see your doctor."
Tait shook his head: "No, he'd only swear at me for disobeying him. I'm all right—if I can only avoid any excitement. Been going a little too hard. It's that damned dilated heart of mine. The doctor said I ought to be in bed to-night."
"Why did you come here then?"
"Oh, young Webb was afraid that Alice's mother would drag her home if she knew I was not about. But I'm a fool. This life is killing me. I ought to run down to Vichy or Evian for a few days."
"Yes; you mustn't delay any further."
"I'll go if you'll come with me, Harvey. For one thing, it will get you away from that woman."