"That's more likely still. There are as many Van Tromps in New York as
there are shrimps on the Breton coast, and they're all related to me,
because I'm supposed to have a little money."

"I sha'n't let you offend me," Diane said, stoutly, "because I want your
help."

"That's a very good reason."

"But since you take so little interest in us I will not attempt to
explain how it is that we've come to such misfortune."

"I'll take that for granted."

"The blow has fallen more heavily on my mother-in-law than on me. She
has lost everything she had in the world; while I have still my own
money--my _dot_--and a little over from the sale of my jewels."

"Well?"

"If you'd ever seen her, you would know how terrible, how impossible,
such a situation is for her. She's the sort of woman who ought to have
money--who _must_ have money. And so I thought if I came to you--"

"I'd give her some."

"No," Diane said, quickly, with a renewed touch of indignation, "but
that you'd help me to do it."