No one can do it except myself." "Are you her friend or her enemy ?" Tavernake asked.
"Why do you ask such a question ?" she demanded.
"I am only going by her expression when she saw you come into the chemist's shop," Tavernake persisted doggedly.
"It is a cruel suggestion, that," the woman cried.

"I wish to be her friend, I am her friend.

If I could only tell you everything, you would understand at once what a terrible situation, what a hideous quandary I am in." Once more Tavernake paused for a few moments.

He was never a quick thinker and the situation was certainly an embarrassing one for him.
"Madam," he replied at length, "I beg that you will tell me nothing.

The young lady of whom you have spoken permits me to call myself her friend, and what she has not told me herself I do not wish to learn from others.
I will tell her of this meeting with you, and if it is her desire, I will bring you her address myself within a few hours.