John was mysteriously chuckling.
"Haven't you your opinion," he asked, "of men who eat their words and put their scruples in their pockets?"
"I don't understand," said she, looking wild. "There is, of course, some joke."
"There is a joke, indeed," said he; "the joke is that I'm ten times richer than I told you I was."
She started back, and fixed him with a glance.
"Then all that about your being poor was only humbug?" There was reproach in her voice, I'm not sure there wasn't disappointment.
"No," said he, "it was the exact and literal truth. But I have come into a modest competency over-night."
"I don't understand," said she.
"My own part in the story is a sufficiently inglorious one," said he. "I'm the benefactee. Lady Blanchemain and my uncle have put their heads together, and endowed me. I feel rather small at letting them, but it enables me to look my affianced boldly in the money-eye."
"Oh? You are affianced? Already?" she asked gaily.