“From my step-sister, I make bold to guess; though how she is able to draw to this extent upon the baronial coffers, without exciting any suspicion as to her motive, puzzles me.”
“She has great influence with him,” said Fifine; “though I think it likely she has advanced this from her own store, intending to recoup herself from his at a more favourable time.”
“Great influence, has she?” said I, looking up.
“Yes, I think so,” said Fifine; and she went on rather hastily, as if to avoid the subject: “You will liquidate my debt to you out of it; and then we will go on as before.”
“Shall we?” said I. “Then Marion has not mentioned to you——”
“O!” said she. “Then you knew it was from her; and what she was to say besides?”
“I guessed.”
“How wonderfully clever of you. Now, Felix, why will you not be frank with me?”
“Let me know first. What does she say?”
“Just this: that if we are inclined to take a trip together, she has no obstacle to put in our way. Now, I want to ask you, How did you dare?”