The Girl Who Had Nothing

"[...]down from head to foot. "We are related--through Adam," replied Joan, whose lips were dry. "As for 'trading' on the relationship, I'm proud of it, and I don't see why you should be ashamed of me. I've done nothing to disgrace you." "What is your game, that you should have selected my particular branch of the Adam family?" "Because I have one of your family secrets. If you are going to disown me, there's no reason why I shouldn't give it away." "What are you talking about?" "Clerios. You aren't ready for the secret of that deal to come out yet, are you? I saw in the paper the other day that you had denied any intention of taking the Clerio line into your combine. It was the same paper that said you had just returned to New York from Florida." "You are an adventuress, my young friend." "Every seeker of fortune is an adventurer or an adventuress. The crime is, failure. I'm not a criminal, because I am succeeding, and my[...]".