I was born in ze gutter--I crawl
out of ze gutter by myself. I keep out of ze gutter--always. And I
don't cry and wring my 'ands when people try to kick me back again. I
kick them. I look after myself. Monsieur Cosgrave--and all those
others--they must look after themselves too. Do you think they bother
about me if I become _ennuyeuse_--like them--and cry because they don't
love me and like some leetle girl in ze chorus better? Not they. They
want fun and life from me--and I give them that. When they want more
they can--'ow you say?--get out?"
He stared at her in white-hot detestation.
"I see. I've just wasted my time. You're--you're as infamous as they
say. You're taking everything he has, and now he can go and hang
himself. You're worse than a woman of the streets because you're more
clever."
She kissed her fingers at him in good-humoured farewell. "I like you
ver' much--_quand meme_," she said. "Next time I come and call on you,
per'aps!"
2
That same night Cosgrave, frustrated at the theatre, tried to force an
entrance to the Kensington house, and the old woman, seconded by a
Japanese man-servant, flung him out again and into the arms of a
policeman who promptly arrested him. Stonehouse went bail for him, and
there was a strange, frantic scene in his own rooms.
For this was not the gentle young man who had met Connie Edwards'
infidelity with an apathetic resignation. He was violent and
indignant.
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