"Ten thousand pounds!" He held up his hands, with his top-hat between them. "Ten thousand pounds! She speaks of that great sum as if it were a mere nothing!"
"Have you brought it?"
"I certainly have not."
"Then what have you brought?"
"I have brought--nothing."
"Look here, Luker, I'm in an ugly temper. You ought to know the signs of it as well as any man, so I advise you to take care. I told you you were to bring me ten thousand pounds. When I said it I meant it; why haven't you brought it?"
"My dear Isabel----"
"Haven't I told you not to call me that?"
"Very well; it's a matter of utter indifference to me what I call you--utter! I was merely about to remark that I have laid your proposition before my friend, and, as I anticipated, he has decided that he doesn't care to lend money except on adequate security."
"Adequate security! Don't you call a quarter of a million adequate security?"