“I hate to think of someone getting away with this,” I said. “It’s not fair.”

He reached out to me and stroked my cheek. “Life isn’t fair, my darling. Surely you know that by now. But if we can finally pin a conviction on their leader and have him shut away in Sing Sing, then it might have been worth it.” At the front door he took me in his arms and kissed me, hard and demandingly on the mouth. “And in the meantime,” he said, “you’ll be living it up in ‘Gay Paree.’”

Chapter 7

Seven

On May 21, 1905, Daniel, Liam, and I traveled to the Hudson Piers in a closed carriage. I carried with me one trunk of clothing, containing the most suitable items donated by Dodo Phillips. She was horrified that I planned to travel with only one trunk and so few items of clothing. I assured her that I would have no need of her more extravagant gowns, however lovely they were. Of course I couldn’t tell her I was off to Paris and made her think I was heading for a remote location in the country. She had also given Liam enough gowns, capes, caps, and blankets to keep him well-dressed until he progressed to wearing pants. I was extremely grateful to her, of course. She had tried hard to keep me amused and entertained, giving up some of her own social engagements to stay with me and teaching me how to play mah-jongg. But her bubbly chatting was hard to take when I was trying to come to terms with my own reduced circumstances, not knowing whether my house could be rebuilt or where we’d go when I returned from Paris. And God knew when that would be.

The one remarkable thing that had happened during the week was that Aggie’s relatives had been located and had come to claim her body. It turned out that her mother had never wanted to turn her out, but had been overruled by a stern and strict husband. It was pitiful to witness her grief now, Daniel had said. I hoped that her father would have his share of suffering eventually.

A cable had also come from Sid and Gus, more long-winded than mine had been, saying how excited they were and that I must send a telegram when I knew which boat train I was catching so that they could meet me at the station. I pictured seeing their familiar faces, beaming at me as the train pulled in, and I felt a bubble of hope for the first time in days.

“Here we are,” Daniel said as the carriage turned in at the Twenty-fourth Street pier. “Wait here while I find a porter to take your belongings on board.”