But even if she had turned him off, that alone would not account for his friend's fearful condition of mind and body.
"What is it, Dolly ?" persisted Vandover.

"We used to be pretty good chums, not so long ago." They sat down on the edge of the bed, and for a moment their positions seemed reversed: Haight the one to be protected and consoled, Vandover the shielding and self-reliant one.
Young Haight passed his hand over his face before he answered, and Vandover noticed that his fingers trembled like an old man's.
"Do you remember that night, Van, when you and Charlie and I all went out to Turner's house, and we had _tamales_ and beer, and a glass broke in that peculiar way, and I cut my lip ?" Vandover nodded, forcing his attention against the alcoholic fumes, to follow his friend's words.
"We went down to the Imperial afterward," Haight continued, "and ran into Ellis, and we had something more to eat.

Do you remember that as we sat there, Toby, the waiter, brought Flossie in, and she sat there with us a while ?" He paused, choosing his words.

Vandover listened closely, trying to recall the incident.
"She kissed me," said young Haight slowly, "and the court-plaster came off.

You know I never had anything to do with women, Van.