"Happy woman I--I mean unhappy man, Mrs. Hilary."

"And how much was it he stole?"

"Hard on a thousand," said I. "For a time, you know, he was
quite a man of fashion."

"Oh, I know. He came here in his own hansom, perfectly dressed,
and--"

"Behaved all right, didn't he?"

"Yes. Of course there was a something."

"Or you wouldn't have been deceived!" said I, with a smile.

"I wasn't deceived," said Mrs. Hilary, an admirable flush
appearing on her cheeks.

"That is to say, Hilary wouldn't."

"Oh, Hilary! Why didn't his employers prosecute him, Mr.
Carter?"

"In the first place, he had that inestimable advantage in a
career of dishonesty--respectable relations."

"Well, but still--"