"How much?" said George, standing over her, cigarette in hand.
"Well—four thousand pounds!" said Lady Tressady, her eyes blinking involuntarily as she looked up at him.
"Four thousand pounds!" exclaimed George. "Preposterous!"
And, raising his hand, he flung his cigarette violently into the fire and resumed his walk, hands thrust into his pockets.
Lady Tressady looked tearfully at his long, slim figure as he walked away, conscious, however, even at this agitated moment, of the quick thought that he had inherited some of her elegance.
"George!"
"Yes—wait a moment—mother"—he faced round upon her decidedly. "Let me tell you at once, that at the present moment it is quite impossible for me to find that sum of money."
Lady Tressady flushed passionately like a thwarted child.
"Very well, then," she said—"very well. Then it will be bankruptcy—and
I hope you and Letty will like the scandal!"
"So he threatens bankruptcy?"