"No harm at all, and perhaps a great deal of good. I say that I wish
you nothing but well. Suppose a gift of all the money I have would
smooth your whole life before you, and make you the happy wife of
some other man. I would give it you gladly. That kind of thing has
often been said, when it meant nothing: it isn't so with me. It has
always been more pleasure to me to give than to receive. No merit of
mine; I have it from my father. Make clear to me that you are to
benefit by this money, and you shall have the cheque as soon as you
please."

"I shall benefit by it, because it will relieve me from a dreadful
anxiety."

"Or, in other words, will relieve someone else?"

"I can speak only of myself. The kindness will be done to me."

"I must know more than that. Come now, we assume that there's
someone in the background. A friend of yours, let us say. I can't
Imagine why this friend of yours wants money, but so it is. You
don't contradict me?"

Eve remained mute, her head bent.

"What about your friend and you in the future? Are you bound to this
friend in any irredeemable way?"

"No--I am not," she answered, with emotion.

"There's nothing between you but--let us call it mere friendship."