"'What is it? Why are you so pale and agitated? Was he anything to you. Ah, I guess it—by my prophetic soul, your uncle!'
"'Yes,' he answered bitterly. 'My uncle! My mother's brother! Wretched woman, what have you done?'
"My heart was beating painfully and I felt hot all over, but outwardly I froze.
"'You know what I have done,' I replied icily.
"'Yes, robbed me of three thousand pounds!' he cried.
"'How dare you say that?' I answered indignantly. 'Why, it was for you I meant them.'
"The statement was not, perhaps, strictly accurate, but my indignation was sufficiently righteous to cover a whole pack of lies.
"'Your intentions may have been strictly honorable,' he retorted, 'but your behavior was abominable. Great heavens! Do you know that you could be prosecuted?'
"'Nonsense!' I said stoutly, though my heart misgave me. 'What for?'
"'What for? You, a plunderer of the dead, a harpy, a ghoul, ask what for?'