"I did say precisely that, Pierre Delacroix," answered the soldier, nettled a little by the manner of the questioner, and shaking off his momentary embarrassment the instant he was put upon his mettle.
"When I knew Colonel John Forester, he was reputed to be worth a million of dollars," said Pierre.
"When I knew him," replied Arthur Gordon, "he was reputed to be worth two, at the lowest figure."
"And has he become a bankrupt since then, or a beggar?" asked the other, sharply.
"Neither, that I ever heard. Au contraire, he is, all but one or two, the richest man they say in Louisiana."
"And why the devil, then, did he give you his daughter for a wife, and not give you the means to sustain her."
"I never said that he did give her to me," said the other, steadily.
"You said she was your wife."
"I did say so, and do. But I will substitute a short story for a long debate."