"After this evening," she said, "I go out of your life as
completely and finally as though I had never existed. I have a
fancy to take my poor secrets with me. If you wish to talk, tell
me about yourself. You have gone out of your way to be kind to
me. I wonder why. It doesn't seem to be your role."

He smiled slowly. His face was fashioned upon broad lines and
the relaxing of his lips lightened it wonderfully. He had good
teeth, clear gray eyes, and coarse black hair which he wore a
trifle long; his forehead was too massive for good looks.

"No," he admitted, "I do not think that benevolence is one of my
characteristics."

Her dark eyes were turned full upon him; her red lips, redder
than ever they seemed against the pallor of her cheeks and her
deep brown hair, curled slightly. There was something almost
insolent in her tone.

"You understand, I hope," she continued, "that you have nothing
whatever to look for from me in return for this sum which you
propose to expend for my entertainment?"

"I understand that," he replied.

"Not even gratitude," she persisted. "I really do not feel
grateful to you. You are probably doing this to gratify some
selfish interest or curiosity. I warn you that I am quite
incapable of any of the proper sentiments of life."