"What! you are not serious—you have no conception of the heat—it will kill you!"
"I think not. I believe one's first hot weather is never very trying."
"But, I assure you——"
"Captain Haig," she interrupted, "I see that you have not heard—Madame's death has made a great change in my circumstances—I am now quite poor."
He stopped for a second, and stared back into her face with a gaze of blank surprise. After an expressive pause he spoke:
"I can't imagine you—what is called 'poor.'"
"Often I cannot realise it myself—but it is true—Madame left no will—I was not related to her—all I have in the world is three hundred pounds and some diamonds—now"—with a faint smile—"you know the worst!"
"What hard luck! I am awfully sorry," he began.
"Thank you; but it is not so bad after all—I do not mind—much."
If she, who had been brought up surrounded with all that money could provide, "did not mind much," why should he? It was not her money which had attracted him, but her most beautiful, dazzling self; and she was, in his opinion, more lovely than ever, as she stood looking at him with her dark pathetic eyes.