She turned on him quietly, traces of hauteur in her manner. Her
self-pride had been hurt. "You have heard?" she asked.

"Only your last words, Lady Lawless. They were enough. I feel guilty in
having brought him here."

"You need not. I was glad to have your friend. He is young and effusive.
Let us say no more about it.

"He is tragically repentant; which is a pity. There is no reason why he
should not stay, and be sensible. Why should young men lose their heads,
and be so absurdly earnest?"

"Another poser, Lady Lawless."

"In all your life you never misunderstood things so, I am sure."

"Well, there is no virtue in keeping your head steady. I have spent most
of my life wooing Madame Fortune; I find that makes a man canny."

"She has been very kind to you."

"Perhaps it would surprise you if I told you that at this moment I am not
worth ten thousand dollars." She looked greatly astonished. "I do not
understand," she said. She was thinking of what this might mean to Gracia
Raglan.

"You see I've been playing games at a disadvantage with some ruffians at
New York. They have combined and got me into a corner. I have made my