"No," Diane smiled, somewhat wanly. "They've been in the hands of the Messrs. Hargous for a good many years past. They are entirely at my own disposal—not in trust, they said; so that I had a right to take them away. I thought I would just bring them to you."
"What for?"
"To keep them for my mother-in-law and pay her the interest, or whatever it is."
"Why didn't you leave them with Hargous?"
"I was afraid, from some things he said, he would object to what I wanted to do."
"And what made you think I wouldn't object to it, too?"
"Two or three reasons. First, Monsieur Hargous is not an American, and you are; and I'd been told that Americans always like to help one another—"
"I don't know who could have put that notion into your head."
"And, then, from the few glimpses I've had of you—I will say it!—I thought you looked kind."
"Well, now that you've had a better look, you see I don't. How much money have you got? You haven't told me that yet."