He came closer, meeting her distraught eyes squarely. "You love to fool yourself, Cora, but the role of betrayed virtue doesn't suit you very well. You're young, but you're a pretty experienced woman for all that, and you haven't done anything you didn't want to. You've had both eyes open every minute, and we both know it. You are just as wise as----" "You're lying and _you_ know it! What did _I_ want to make Richard go into your scheme for? You made a fool of me." "I'm not speaking of the money now," he returned quickly. "You'd better keep your mind on the subject. Are you coming away with me?" "What for?" she asked. "What _for_?" he echoed incredulously. "I want to know if you're coming. I promise you I'll get a divorce as soon as it's possible----" "Val," she said, in a tone lower than she had used since he entered the room; "Val, do you want me to come?" "Yes." "Much?" She looked at him eagerly. "Yes, I do." His answer sounded quite genuine. "Will it hurt you if I don't?" "Of course it will." "Thank heaven for that," she said quietly. "You honestly mean you won't?" "It makes me sick with laughing just to imagine it! I've done some hard little thinking, lately, my friend--particularly last night, and still more particularly this morning since that man was here. I'd cut my throat before I'd go with you. If you had your divorce I wouldn't marry you--not if you were the last man on earth!" "Cora," he cried, aghast, "what's the matter with you? You're too many for me sometimes. I thought I understood a few kinds of women! Now listen: I've offered to take you, and you can't say----" "Offered!" It was she who came toward him now. She came swiftly, shaking with rage, and struck him upon the breast. "`Offered'! Do you think I want to go trailing around Europe with you while Dick Lindley's money lasts? What kind of a life are you `offering' me? Do you suppose I'm going to have everybody saying Cora Madison ran away with a jail-bird? Do you think I'm going to dodge decent people in hotels and steamers, and leave a name in this town that--Oh, get out! I don't want any help from you! I can take care of myself, I tell you; and I don't have to marry _you_! I'd kill you if I could--you made a fool of me!" Her voice rose shrilly. "You made a fool of me!" "Cora----" he began, imploringly. "You made a fool of me!" She struck him again. "Strike me," he said. "I love you!" "Actor!" "Cora, I want you. I want you more than I ever----" She screamed with hysterical laughter. "Liar, liar, liar! The same old guff. Don't you even see it's too late for the old rotten tricks?" "Cora, I want you to come." "You poor, conceited fool," she cried, "do you think you're the only man I can marry?" "Cora," he gasped, "you wouldn't do that!" "Oh, get out! Get out _now_! I'm tired of you. I never want to hear you speak again." "Cora," he begged. "For the last time----"