Читать книгу The Complete Works of F. Scott Fitzgerald онлайн

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“Never heard of it.”

“Did you ever read any book in which a girl was wooed by a so-called sheik or cave man?”

“Not that I remember.”

“What, then, was your favorite book when you were a girl?”

“‘Little Lord Fauntleroy.’”

Doctor Gallup was considerably disappointed. He decided to approach the case from a new angle.

“Miss Fifi, won’t you admit that there’s nothing behind this but some fancy in your head?”

“On the contrary,” said Fifi startlingly, “there’s a great deal more behind it than any of you suspect. He’s changed my entire attitude on life.”

“What do you mean?”

She seemed on the point of making some declaration, but after a moment her lovely eyes narrowed obstinately and she remained silent.

“Miss Fifi”—Doctor Gallup raised his voice sharply—“the daughter of C. T. J. Calhoun, the biscuit man, ran away with a taxi-driver. Do you know what she’s doing now?”

“No.”

“She’s working in a laundry on the East Side, trying to keep her child’s body and soul together.”

He looked at her keenly; there were signs of agitation in her face.