"Is it necessary to ask? I came home intending not to question you. But I must make one comment: you're surprised that I invite a friend to visit us without consulting you. That seems inconsistent with what you've done. I've read the evening paper, and----" "Oh, Roger! It's in the paper ... about that poor child and me?" "Naturally! You and I aren't nonentities." "You don't think I did wrong?" "Wrong's a big word. You've done something foolish, and inconsiderate to me." "What harm can the child do to you?" "That depends upon what sort of 'child' she is! Perhaps you can give me a better account of her than the _Evening Star_ gives!" "I can't give you any," said Beverley, in a trembling voice, "except that she was the most pitiful thing I ever saw ... so young and desperate, lying in pools of blood." "Which pools of blood you transferred to your new motor car, my present, that I thought you valued." "Roger! What did the motor matter, compared with saving a life?" "Saving a life wasn't in question. An ambulance would have been on the spot in a minute to take the girl to a hospital." "She wouldn't have had love in a hospital. I felt it was for lack of love she'd tried to kill herself...." "A girl who steals her companions' money can't expect to have their love...." "Oh! So that's what the newspaper says? I don't believe she stole. Wait till you see the poor little thing, Roger." "I don't want to see her. Now she's here, she'll have to stay till she dies, or can be safely moved. I've no wish to be cruel. But when she can go, I want her to do so. I don't mind giving...." "You do mind giving faith and sympathy!" Beverley burst out. "Why should you take me on faith, and refuse it to another? You knew nothing about me ... I know nothing about this child...." "Ah, you're sure you know nothing about her!" His tone was bitter. "What could I know?" she echoed. "I brought her straight home, and she hasn't been able to talk ... except a few words." "It occurred to me as rather odd you should do so much for a complete stranger." "Oh, I see! You think I knew her ... before?" "I thought it possible. Her name put the idea into my head. I heard you say it once ... in your ... sleep ... Riley ... or something like that."