“‘IT SHALL BE FIVE THOUSAND FLORINS IF IT’S A PENNY, MY LADY’”
“I will arrange for your emigrating to Canada,” she said, “if you promise to sign the pledge.”
“Oh, I’ll sign it, and willingly,” answered Skiff. “If I may make so bold, how much would you make it, my lady?”
“That will depend on many things,” replied Ursula, and turned to go. “I will have no money wasted.”
Adeline stood in the path, looking as if she would fain have struck her successful rival.
Ursula paused.
“You poor thing,” she said, “I cannot understand what you have against me. I am in no way responsible for your ruin. Believe me, I did all in my power to persuade Baron van Helmont to make you his wife.”
No other words the Baroness could have uttered would have enraged Adeline more than these. The woman stood foaming at the mouth with the hysterical passion of her class.
“You! You!” she sobbed out. “He asked me to marry him, do you hear, like the true-hearted gentleman he was! And I threw him over for Skiff! What I said later was a lie, as you know; but I’d have kept up the game if the child hadn’t died, as it did last year, more’s the pity! And I could have been Baroness van Helmont, if I’d chosen. So there! You can take my leavings, madame.”
Ursula came a step closer; her face seemed to alter suddenly. “Answer before God,” she said; “did Gerard van Helmont offer you marriage before your child was born?”