"Of course not. I wouldn't, either," protested Miss Liverage. "I never did anything which was not honest, fair, and above-board, and I never mean to. Now, Leopold, I can put you in the way of making five hundred dollars."
"Can you? I am sure I shall not object. I suppose the money would do me as much good as it would anybody."
"I have no doubt it would. Now, can you keep a secret?" demanded the woman, more excited than ever; so much so that her manner began to be decidedly melo-dramatic.
"That depends on circumstances," answered Leopold, who was not yet quite clear in his own mind whether or not the woman was crazy. "If it is to cheat anybody out of a cent, even, I wouldn't keep a secret any more than I would the itch, if I could get rid of it."
"Nonsense, Leopold! I am not going to cheat or wrong anybody. I wouldn't do such a thing for all the money in the world."
"I can keep a secret that won't harm anybody," added the young man.
"Will you promise me solemnly not to tell any one, not even your father, what I say to you?" asked Miss Liverage, in a low tone, and in a very impressive manner.
"If the matter don't concern my father, I won't tell him of it, or anybody else. But I don't want you to tell me anything that concerns any person—that is, in a way to do any injury."
"It don't concern any living soul," interposed Miss Liverage, impatiently. "I know where there is some money."
The last remark was whispered, after a glance at the door and all the windows of the parlor.