The Letter Page #2

"Sit back where you were and talk sensibly,

or I shall have to send you home."

But I wonder you didn't

throw him out there and then.

I didn't want to make a fuss.

Some men think it's their duty

to flirt with women...

...whenever they have the chance.

They think women expect it.

When did you first suspect

that Hammond was serious?

The next thing he said to me.

He looked at me straight in the face

and said:

"Don't you know I'm awfully

in love with you?"

Swine.

-Were you surprised?

-But of course I was surprised.

We've known him seven years, Robert.

He's never paid me the smallest attention.

Didn't suppose he even knew

what color my eyes were.

We haven't seen very much of him

for the last few years.

Go on, Leslie.

Well, he helped himself

to another whisky and soda.

I began to wonder

if he'd been drinking before.

"I wouldn't have another one

if I were you," I said.

I was quite friendly,

not the least bit frightened.

Never occurred to me

I couldn't manage him.

But he emptied his glass

and said to me in a funny, abrupt way:

"Do you think I'm saying this

because I'm drunk?"

I said, "That's the most obvious

explanation, isn't it?"

Oh, it's too awful having to tell you all this.

I'm so ashamed.

I wish there were some way

we could spare you.

Leslie, it's for your own good

that we know the facts.

All you can remember of them.

Very well, I'll tell you the rest.

I got up from that chair there.

And I stood in front of the table here.

He rose and came around the table

and stood in front of me.

I held out my hand.

"Good night," I said.

But he didn't move.

He just stood there looking at me,

and his eyes were all funny.

"I'm not going," he said.

Then I began to lose my temper.

"Poor fool, don't you know

I've never loved anyone but Robert?

And even if I didn't love him,

you'd be the last man I should care for."

"Robert's away," he said.

Well, that was the last straw.

I wasn't in the least bit frightened,

just angry.

"If you don't leave immediately," I said...

" ...I shall call the boys

and have you thrown out."

I walked past him toward the veranda

to call the boys.

He took hold of my arm

and swung me back.

I tried to scream, but he flung his arms

about me and kissed me.

I struggled to tear myself away from him.

He seemed like a madman. He kept talking

and talking and saying he loved me and--

It's horrible. Can't go on.

I'm sorry, Leslie,

but we'll have to know the rest.

He lifted me in his arms

and started carrying me.

Somehow he stumbled on those steps.

We fell, and I got away from him.

Suddenly I remembered Robert's revolver

in the drawer of that chest.

He got up and ran after me,

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