“Nothing whatever, as I am sorry to say.”
She sighed deeply.
“I think I should give it up,” he said.
“No, no, no!” she cried with vehemence. “I would have you renew and redouble your efforts.”
“What can I do that has not already been done?”
“I don’t know, but you must try to think of something. Write a new advertisement; send it to every paper in the land.”
“It will be putting you to very great expense, and uselessly, I am almost sure.”
“That is my affair,” she wheezed, wiping the perspiration from her face with a delicate cambric handkerchief.
“Certainly,” he replied, with a slight bow of acquiescence; “the money is your own to use as you please, but it is a pity to throw it away. And how long have we been engaged in this search?”
“Ten years!” she sighed half despairingly; “but,” brightening a little, “we’ve almost let it drop for months past. I’d nearly lost heart, but we must begin again and never mind expense. I’d give half my fortune to succeed.”