The Winnifred Eaton Digital Archive Edited & Compiled by Jean Lee Cole Assistant Professor, Department of English Loyola College in Maryland Hosted & Maintained by the Electronic Text Center University of Virginia Library

"That night they send me a letter to my house. How much I will settle my claim for $90,000 for? I disdain to reply, but next day this is how I answer: I attach every piece of property of that company permitted by law. That same day, I dismiss all my servants -- I close up my house and put caretaker in charge; I cancel all engagements. I said to myself: 'Now I am all through.' I take many little insult and humiliation -- but no -- nothing so big as this. I do not wait for any legal consequence of my action, but that night I take train for San Francisco, and from there, immediately I sail for Japan!

"I remain in Japan for three months. I pass back through America, by San Francisco, but I do not even stop off at Hollywood. I go straight on to New York and from there to France."

Hayakawa drew a great breath. I think he was glad that the thing was out -- out of his system. He had nursed a hurt so long that it had rankled intolerably. He had thrown over his career for an insult.

"Did you get the $90,000 back?" I asked practically.

Hayakawa shrugged, as though money were but a detail.

"Oh, yes. That is settled inside of half hour, with representative of new company that buy the assets. All that money paid to me when I am in France."

He moved restlessly, offered me a cigarette, lit one; smiled through the smoke. I knew he wanted to change the subject.