“Do you imagine I would ruin an innocent woman? What kind of a man do you think I am?”
She shrugged fat shoulders. “Not if it were avoidable, of course. But how do you know she is innocent? She has had every opportunity to deceive you. A lonely woman will do desperate things, Alexis. Love is a great temptation to a girl like Claire, and half a loaf is better than none!”
“But Claire! I can’t imagine Claire being unfaithful. She is the most loyal creature alive.”
“She may be loyal, but she is also passionate. You at least should retain some memory of that.” The innocent eyes concealed amusement.
He flushed. The memory of Claire’s surrenders was like a vague but abject nightmare. Yes, the girl possessed a lurid kind of passivity, a submission as unlike Anne’s goddess-like generosity as night from day. Mme. Petrovskey pursued her advantage.
“It remains to be seen which of the two traits is the stronger.”
“I believe I know. It would take Claire’s own words to convince me to the contrary.” But his manner was less ironical, almost receptive.
Mme. Petrovskey took up her theme complacently. “Think it over, Alexis. Don’t permit an obstinate girl to ruin your life. You love another woman——”
A dangerous gleam in his eye, he checked her quickly. “We will not speak of that!”
“Very well. Only, as I was going to say before, it is not as if you loved Claire and she could keep you. By clinging stubbornly to you, she is merely ruining her own life as well. I believe Dr. Elliott would marry her if she were free.”