"It's carried then, without a dissentient voice," exclaimed Curtis; "as my friend the Duke——"
"Let us have no more falsehoods," interrupted his wife. "You said just now that you knew no Duke—never had known one—and never should——"
"But I thought you was in a fit at that moment, my dear?" said Frank.
"Maybe I was—but still I could hear all that passed, as you very well know. However, let us be good friends, and hold a consultation how we are to proceed."
"Good!" cried Frank. "And we will begin with a glass of wine each. There—let us drink each other's health. Here's to you, my dear. And now to business. I suppose all these letters and bills are about unpaid debts of yours?"
"Precisely so, love," answered Mrs. Curtis.
"How much do you think they amount to?"
"About eighteen hundred pounds, I should say?"
"And how much money have you got towards paying them, dear?" inquired Frank.
"Eighteen-pence, love," responded the lady, extracting that sum from her pocket.