"Why should she find it difficult to speak of? It's a mere matter of business, I suppose."
"If it's business to give Cousin Henry what would be nearly a hundred thousand pounds in English money, with no prospect that any one can see of his ever getting it back—that is, not unless old Madame de Melcourt—"
"Oh, I say! Then he's one of your beastly millionaires, by Jove!—grind the noses off the poor, and that sort of thing, to play Haroun-al-Raschid with the cash."
"Not in the least. He never ground the nose off any one; and as for being a millionaire, father says that what he's done for Cousin Henry will pretty well clean him out."
"All the same, he's probably done it with a jolly sharp eye to the main chance."
"Oh, I dare say his motives weren't altogether altruistic. Only it's a little difficult to see where the main chance comes in."
"Then what the deuce is he up to?"
"I'm afraid I can't tell you that. I repeat that I'm only giving you the facts. You must interpret them for yourself."
He looked thoughtful. Drusilla plucked a scarlet dahlia and fastened it in her dress, after which they strolled back slowly to the middle of the lawn. Here Ashley said:
"Has all this got anything to do with Olivia? I wish you wouldn't make mysteries."