“O! are we?” said Moll, with a sniff.
“Scandals,” he said, “have nothing to do with facts. An apparition might cause one. You may be as innocent as a babe, but appearances are against you. Therefore you must suffer for appearances. Now, about this voice of yours.”
“Well, what about it?”
“With that and your face for fortune, you might, under proper auspices, prove an incalculable success.”
“What do you mean by auspices?”
He leaned forward, lightly touching his breast with his fingers.
“Patronage: a Royal Duke’s. And in the meantime, pending developments, we might consent to condone this offence, leaving you undisturbed in your present position.”
“I see,” said the girl, after a pause, her eyes rather glowing—“I see. And that, you mean, is to be your reward to me by and by for consenting, if I do consent, to act now as your creature and decoy to help you to your fancy. You’ve no objection to letting me remain on the spot, in spite of my polluting it, if only I’ll act my best for you as an informer and go-between.”
“Such intelligence,” said the Duke, “combined with gifts so sweet, should ensure you, properly directed, a prosperous future.”
“Well,” said Moll, “it’s a bargain if you like. Only wait while I think.”