“On the contrary, I am becoming quite accustomed to it. But I am afraid even your imagination must fail soon. I have been in swift succession a tyrant, a thief and a murderer, and now a fortune hunter. There is really nothing left.”
“Oh!” said Ludovic gaily, “we have acquitted you of theft and murder, you know.”
“True,” Shield retorted. “But as your acquittals are invariably accompanied by fresh and more outrageous slanders, I almost dread the moment when you acquit me of fortune hunting.”
Eustacie looked a little distressed. “But, Tristram, you do not understand! We do not really think you are a fortune hunter!”
Ludovic gave a delighted crack of laughter, and caught her hand to his lips. “I lied, I lied! I have had one day’s good luck at least, when I met my cousin Eustacie!”
“Yes, but—”
Sir Tristram said gravely: “Of course, if you do not really think it—”
“No, I do not. In fact, I am beginning quite to like you,” Eustacie assured him.
“Thank you,” said Sir Tristram, much moved.
“But I thought it would be a very good thing to pretend to Basil that you still wished to marry me, and so, you see, you cannot come to his house with us. I perceive now that it is a pity that I said it, perhaps, but one cannot always look far enough ahead.”