"'Yes—after I have been taken by the photographer.'
"'But look at the position you will be in?'
"'I shall be in six different positions—one for each of the chief illustrated papers.'
"'Your flippancy is ill-timed, Margaret,' said Richard sternly.
"'Flippant, good heavens! Do you know me so little as to consider me capable of flippancy? Richard, this is the last straw. You have called me a thief, you have threatened to place me in the felon's dock, and I have answered you with soft words, but no man shall call me flippant and continue to be engaged to me!'
"'But, Maggie, darling!' His tone was changing. He saw he had gone too far. 'Consider! It is not only I that am the loser by your—indiscretion, your generous indiscretion——'
"'My indiscreet generosity,' I corrected.
"He accepted my 'indiscreet generosity' and went on. 'Cannot you see that, as my future wife, you will also suffer?'
"'But surely you will come in for something under your uncle's will all the same,' I reminded him.
"'Not a stiver. He never made a will, he never saved any money. He was the most selfish brute that ever breathed. All the money he couldn't spend on himself he gave away in charity so as to get the kudos during his lifetime, pretending that there was no merit in post-mortem philanthropy. And now all the good he might have done by his death you have cancelled.'