"The money," said Tredennis, "was mine. It was a foolish investment, perhaps; but the money—was mine."
"Yours!" said Bertha. "You invested in the Westoria lands!"
She put her hand in its old place on the mantel, and a strange laugh fell from her lips.
"Then I have been lobbying for you, too," she said. "I—wish I had been more successful."
Richard put his hand up, and pushed back the damp, falling locks of hair from his forehead restlessly.
"I made the investment," he said, "and I am the person to blame, as usual; but you would have believed in it yourself."
"Yes," she answered; "I should have believed in it, I dare say. It has been easy to make me believe, but I think I should also have believed in a few other things,—in the possibility of their being honor and good faith"—
She paused an instant, and then began again.
"You told me once that you had never regarded me seriously. I think that has been the difficulty—and perhaps it was my fault. It will not be necessary to use me any more, and I dare say you will let me go away for a while after a week or so. I think it would be better."
She left her place to cross the room to the door. On her way there she paused before Colonel Tredennis.