"No, I wasn't aware of that," Constance replied, in a voice of studious civility. "Then how do you propose—?"
Their eyes encountered. Constance did not for an instant lose her self-command; Lashmar's efforts to be calm only made his embarrassment more obvious.
"I had a small allowance from my father till lately," he said. "But that has come to an end. It never occurred to me that you misunderstood my position. Surely I have more than once hinted to you how poor I was? I had no intention of misleading you. Lady Ogram certainly knew——"
"She knew you were not wealthy, but she thought you had a competence. I told her so, when she questioned me. It was a mistake, I see, but a very natural one."
"Does it matter, now?" asked Dyce, his lips again curling amiably.
"I should suppose it mattered much. How shall you live?"
"Let us understand each other. Do you withdraw your consent to Lady Ogram's last wish?"
"That wish, as you see, was founded on a misunderstanding."
"But," exclaimed Lashmar, "you are not speaking seriously?"
"Quite. Lady Ogram certainly never intended the money she had left in trust to me to be used for your private needs. Reflect a moment, and you will see how impossible it would be for me to apply the money in such a way."