"I've paid an old debt with it," he said. "I was very glad to be able to. I'm quite free now."
"Were you in debt? Oh, why didn't you tell me? I've got a lot of money. How unkind of you, Ashley!"
"I couldn't take your money," said Ashley. "And I wasn't pressed. My creditor wouldn't have minded waiting for ever."
"What an angel!" said Ora. She was a little surprised that under the circumstances Ashley had felt called upon to pay.
"Exactly," he laughed. "It was Bowdon."
"He's got lots of money. I wonder he takes it."
"I shall make him take it. I borrowed it to get something I wanted, and I don't feel the thing's mine till I've paid him off."
"Oh, I understand that," said Ora.
"Don't tell him I told you."
"All right, I won't. I don't suppose I shall get a chance of telling Lord Bowdon anything. Irene was like ice to me at the wedding." In reality Irene had not failed to meet with a decent cordiality the outpouring of Ora's enthusiasm.