"I suppose I was more adaptable formerly," he said slowly. "It is something, however, suddenly to encounter an old friend who has made good so fearfully and tremendously in the past week. Of course, I had read all about it. Still, I repeat it was an experience to encounter your stardom actually on the boards; and more of an experience to find you here. I'm really very glad that you secured the one great vehicle. As for your work--few know its quality better than I." She studied him long, her eyes glowing behind the narrowed lids. "As for that, you've been biting the flaky top-crust, too," she said finally. "I never doubted what you could do in your game, but I confess I feared that whiskey would beat you to it.... Do you know you are wonderfully changed--so white, so lean? Your work has come to me since you went away; what else have you been doing?--I mean, to change you so finely." "Garret." Her brow clouded at the word. It was as if she had expected to laugh at him long before this. "Did any woman ever tell you that you're rather a mean sort, Quentin Charter?" "Doubtless I have deserved it," he answered. "What are you thinking?" "I was thinking of your garret--where you gather your victims for vivisection." "That's put very clearly." "Do you think this is big-man stuff?" "My case is rather an ugly one to look back upon, truly," Charter granted. "For a long time, it appeared to me that I must learn things at first-hand. With first-water talents, perhaps this is not necessary." "A woman finally brings a man face to face," she said with sudden scorn, "and he becomes limp, agrees with everything she says.... 'Yes, it is quite true, I was an awful beast. What else, dear?'--ugh!" Charter smiled. She was very swift and deft in supplying a man's evil motives. It is a terrible feminine misfortune--this gift of imputing--and happy women do not possess it. Few men, incidentally, are deep enough to avail themselves of all the crafts and cunnings with which they may be accredited. "I have no intention of destroying the slightest gratification you may draw, Selma, from questioning me," he said. "If I appear limp, please remember that I'm a bit in the dark as yet. I came to this floor on a different errand. I had this errand in mind--not self-examination. However, I'll attend now in all sincerity. You were speaking of my victims for vivisection in the garret." She appeared not to trust him in the least. "I've always wanted to know if you believed--what an apprentice I really was in love--give-and-take--when you came?" "That was easily believed, Selma----" "Then you grant I wasn't acting--when I gave myself to you?" "I didn't think you were acting----" "Then _you_ were acting, because when the time came--you dropped me quite as easily as you would drop a street-cur you had been pleased to feed." "Just there you are a bit in error. I was furiously interested, and certainly not acting altogether, until----"