"Well," said the girl cheerfully, "that would only be fair, since he has paid you a pension for so long."
"What do you know about that?" snapped Hale, changing colour.
"Very little. But you certainly told me in an expansive moment that Lord Charvington, as your cousin, allowed you a small income."
"Precious small," muttered Hale, not contradicting.
"But why does he allow you anything?" asked Lesbia, very directly, "with two thousand a year you cannot wish for his help."
Hale took a turn up and down the room, then stopped opposite to his daughter and spoke in quieter tones, but none the less emphatic. "I am not enjoying two thousand a year at present," he declared slowly, "and so accept an annuity from Charvington, who, being my cousin, has every right to assist me."
"I don't see that," murmured the girl, shrugging.
"It doesn't matter what you see, or what you don't see," cried Hale, his temper again getting beyond control. "Do as you are told, or chance the consequences."
"Be a pawn in fact," she rejoined ironically. "A pawn on your chess-board."
Hale shrugged in his turn. "Put it how you like," he retorted, "but obey."