"I must say," he said, with that same sneering tone in his voice, "that I was taken all aback when I heard what had happened. Always thought you were a model of fidelity, that your heart was buried in Ned's grave, and that sort of thing, don't you know? But money makes a great difference, and there has never been quite enough money for you, has there, Camilla?"
She shivered. There was a leer on his face as he turned and looked at her. She answered him half lightly, half wearily.
"Oh, I don't know! I think one can have too much of anything, even of money."
At this Sir Samuel laughed loudly.
"Well, I must say you are a clever woman. Yes, by Jove! you are. I used to think in the old days, when Ned was on the scene, that you were a fool and a saint combined. I know a little bit better now."
Camilla's lips quivered. She turned to him. There was an unconscious entreaty in her voice.
"Dear Sammy," she said, "why are you so cross with me?"
But he only answered with another laugh.
"Yes, in the old days," he went on, "you played the part of the prude to perfection. Kept a fellow at arm's length, and pretended all sorts of things."
"Why go back to those old times?" asked Mrs. Lancing, in a very low voice.