“I’ve been away three years,” said Dirk sulkily, his eyes contracting....
“That long? It was three years ago that Ynecita was killed.”
“Well?” asked Dirk. His finger-drumming droned away.
“I thought you might have known her, Dirk.”
“I?” His wide, thin lips twitched. “Why, Ynecita was common to half New York!”
“But once,” I said, “once, it may be assumed, she was true to one man only, Tain Dirk.”
“I’m not interested in women,” said Dirk.
That was like him. He drank liquor only—secretly and alone.
“I was interested in Ynecita, Dirk. We used to talk together—”
“She talked to you?” repeated Dirk.