“No; Vic Pradelle pawned it for me.”
“Ah! he is a friend of whom you may be proud, Henri.”
“Not a bad sort of fellow, aunt. He got precious little on the ring, though, and I spent it nearly all.”
“Never mind the ring, my boy, and I’m very glad you have the cards. Now for a little serious talk about the future.”
“Wish to goodness there was no future,” said Harry glumly.
“Would you like to talk about the past, then?” said the old lady playfully.
“Wish there was no past neither,” grumbled Harry.
“Then we will talk about the present, my dear, and about—let me whisper to you—love!”
She placed her thin lips close to her nephew’s ear, and then held him at arm’s length and smiled upon him proudly.
“Love! Too expensive a luxury for me, auntie. I say, you are ruffling my hair so.”