“It is more contemptible than deplorable!”

“Mr. Massinger has written me a letter, a letter of apology and explanation. Of course, I have nothing to say in defence of such misunderstandings. But you actually struck him.”

Eve’s face flamed.

“Yes, you must understand——”

“But I fail to understand.”

“The man is a cad.”

“Miss Carfax, these things don’t happen unless a woman is indiscreet. I think I insisted on your remembering that a woman must be impersonal.”

Eve was amazed. She had come to Miss Champion, counting on a woman’s sympathy, and some show of decent scorn of a man who misused a situation as Hugh Massinger had done.

“Miss Champion, you suggest it was my fault.”

“Mr. Massinger is a man of culture. He has written, giving me an explanation. I do not say that I accept it in its entirety. But without some provocation, thoughtless provocation, perhaps——”