"Wh-What? Look… what the hell are you talking about, anyway?" Antoine rapped, angrily trying to shed her hands from his arms. "Is that what you brought me back here for? To malign Uncle Gaston? Christ, what kind of girl are you? You sleep with him, eat his food, drink his liquor… and too damned much of that by the way you're talking…"

"Stop it!" she hissed vehemently. "Stop and listen to me you stupid, naive idiot! Galaxy Mining, Ltd. is in trouble with the government. I overheard a conversation between Gaston and his attorney, Robert Jovell, this afternoon on the telephone. I heard Gaston say something to the effect that he'd been expecting it… it had to come sooner or later, but that he wasn't worried, they couldn't touch him… the whole operation was in your name! Now… do you still think I'm trying to malign that noble bastard?"

Antoine was stunned. He stared down at her, hardly seeing her. Of course, it was all ridiculous. Either she had misinterpreted whatever it was she'd heard, or she was making the whole thing up for reasons of her own. Certainly, Uncle Gaston would never do anything that would reflect on him, Antoine, let alone making him some sort of scapegoat that might wind him up in prison. The whole idea was preposterous!

"I-I don't know what you're trying to do," he spat at her, "but whatever it is you're wasting your time. My advice is that you lay off the liquor and get yourself out of here as soon as you can. It looks to me like you've overstayed your welcome."

With that, he tried to get around her, but she quickly backed to the door and stood against it, momentarily preventing his leaving. Her usual dancing, suggestive eyes narrowed in her own anger, and although the scintillating lights continued to enliven them, they were now tiny explosions of rage.

"You are a stupid ass, Antoine Poirier! I don't know why in hell I should be putting my head on the chopping block for you… but here I am! Now you listen to me, damn you; what I've told you is truth! You can do whatever you want about it, I don't care.