"I married you for your money, and you married me because--I seemed physically perfect--because my face and my body roused fires in you. I think we are both pretty rotten at heart, don't you?" "No. Anyhow, I don't care to think about it. I never won anything by thinking. Kiss me again." She ignored his demand, with her shadowy smile. "I deliberately traded on my looks; I put myself up for a price, and you paid that price regardless of everything except your desires. We muddled things dreadfully and got our deserts. I didn't love you, I don't love you now any more than you love me; but I think we're coming to respect each other, and that is a beginning. You have longings to be something different and better; so have I. Let's try together. I have it in me to succeed, but I'm not sure about you." "Thanks for the good cheer." "You're afraid you can't make a living for us--I KNOW you can. I'm merely afraid you won't." "What do you mean?" he asked. "I don't believe the liquor will let you." "Nonsense. Any man can cut down." "'Cutting down' won't do for us, Bob." He thrilled anew at her intimate use of his name. "The chemistry of your body demands the stuff--you couldn't be temperate in anything. You'll have to quit." "All right. I'll quit. I divorce the demon rum; lovers once, but strangers now. I'll quit gambling, too." Lorelei laughed. "That won't strain your will-power in the least, for half my salary goes up Amsterdam Avenue, and the rest will about run this flat." Her listener frowned. "Forget that salary talk," he said, shortly. "D'you think I'd let you--support me? D'you think I'm THAT kind of a nosegay? When I get so I can't pay the bills I'll walk out. To-morrow you quit work, and we move to the Ritz--they know me there, and--this delightful, home-like grotto of yours gives me the colly-wabbles." "Who will pay the hotel?" Lorelei smiled. "Mr. George W. Bridegroom, of course. I'll get the money, never fear. I know everybody, and I've borrowed thousands of dollars when I didn't need it. My rooms at the Charlevoix are full of expensive junk; I'll sell it, and that will help. As soon as we're decently settled I'll look for a salaried job. Then watch my smoke. To quote from the press of a few months hence: 'The meteoric rise of Robert Wharton has startled the financial world, surpassing as it does the sensational success of his father. Young Mr. Wharton was seen yesterday at his Wall Street office and took time from his many duties to modestly assure our representative that his ability was inherited, and merely illustrates anew the maxim that "a chip of the old block will return after many days." That will please dad. He'll relent when I attribute my success to him." "You must quit drinking before you begin work," said Lorelei. "I HAVE quit."