"In Scotland only. You are very clever, my dear, but you forget some things."
His deft diversion, however, had done its work, the subject was no longer personal.
"It is impossible," he continued. "I can't leave you in the lurch."
"You don't. Look at it clearly, please. Since we agreed to separate----"
"I never agreed," he put in angrily. "I was quite ready to fulfil----"
"The bond," she interrupted a trifle bitterly, "and I wasn't or couldn't. But ever since then--and before then, too--before you came home, I kept myself. And I'm quite rich, Duke. I have money in the bank. There is no fear for me."
"Is it all money?" he said tragically, gloomily.
She laid her hand lightly on his knee; the touch thrilled her through and through, but he sat unmoved, looking at the fire.
"You can give me all you have ever given me still, dear," she said; "there is no reason why we should not continue to be friends."
There was a long pause. Then she began again--