“Jack!”
I turned and came to her, kneeling down by her side and taking her hands.
She gazed rather intently into my face with unusual gravity. Then she said:
“If you have to choose between me and the money, which will it be?”
I kissed her hand for answer.
“If the money is lost, won’t it all come out? And then, won’t they call you dishonest?”
“I suppose so,” said I. — “You don’t mind that?”
“Yes, I do. Nobody likes being called a thief—especially when there’s a kind of truth about it. But I should mind losing you more.”
“Are you really very fond of me, Jack? No, you needn’t say so. I think you are. Now I’ll tell you a secret. If you hadn’t come here, I should have married General Whittingham long ago. I stayed here intending to do it (oh, yes, I’m not a nice girl, Jack), and he asked me very soon after you first arrived. I gave him my money, you know, then.”
I was listening intently. It seemed as if some things were going to be cleared up.