"Well, I hope you won't die, for my sake!"
"Why for your sake?" asked Pine sharply.
"Because I love Lambert and I want to marry him."
"Marry him," said the millionaire hoarsely, "and I'll give you thousands of pounds. Oh! I forgot that you have a large income. But marry him, marry him, Miss Greeby. I shall help you all I can."
"I can do without assistance," said the woman coolly. "All I ask you to do is to refrain from fighting with Lambert."
"What?" Pine's face became lowering again. "Is he at The Manor? You said—"
"I know what I said. He is not at The Manor, but he is stopping in the cottage a stone's throw from here."
Pine breathed hard, and again had a spasm of coughing. "What's he doing?"
"Painting pictures."
"He has not been near The Manor?"