“I cannot verify your story,” said Otto.
Adeline looked up quickly. “Can’t you, really, Mynheer the Baron?” she retorted.
“And my brother, did he not give you money?”
“Yes, he gave me three thousand florins,” replied Adeline, frankly, “and my husband spent them.”
“I cannot help that,” said Otto.
No, he was not willing to assist her. She appealed but little to his sympathy.
He could not believe she belonged to the “deserving poor,” and he told her so. How had she got hold of her worthless husband?
“By advertisement,” replied Adeline, offended. “The same way your worthy lady tried to get hers.”
“What do you mean? You are insolent,” said Otto, haughtily.
“Oh, of course, Mynheer the Baron; poor people always are when they speak the truth. But when the Baroness was advertising for a husband she couldn’t be sure that she’d get such a good one as you.”