“I want you and Cristina to go down into the town this morning. There is something I desire you to do for me at the English bank.”
Before Lily, who had just had her breakfast, could answer, the Countess went on: “I want you to get some money changed for me there.”
The Countess went quickly out of the kitchen, and Lily heard her go upstairs into her bedroom. In a few moments she was back again with a small work-box of old Italian workmanship.
“I have here some English notes,” she said, “that I want changed into French money. As you know, there is a good rate of exchange, especially if it is done through an honest banker.” She paused, and then said firmly: “I want you to say that these notes were sent you from England in a registered letter.”
Lily flushed up, and the Countess exclaimed: “It is a very small, a very white, lie!”
“Why should I say anything?” said Lily uncomfortably. “Of course they will think I got the money from England.”
“What hypocrites the English are!” The words were uttered very bitterly. “They think nothing of saying ‘Not at home’ when they are at home, but they hesitate about a small thing like this to oblige one who loves them.”
Poor Lily! She felt overwhelmed with discomfort. It seemed to her that Aunt Cosy was making a fuss about nothing, and trying to make her, Lily, lie for the sake of lying.
“Very well,” she said at last. “If I should be asked—which I don’t think likely—then I will say that I got them from England. After all, they did come from England originally!”
She held out her hand. She supposed Aunt Cosy was going to hand her three or four five-pound notes.