"But you know what I mean. Some day, of course,—years and years hence, when nothing matters"—and she blushed uncomfortably; "but just now nothing need be said or even hinted——"
"I understand," he said, with a twitching of the lips.
"You know very well that he has property out West somewhere, which he is bound to come into possession of soon, and it seemed a pity that he should starve and perhaps die while waiting for it."
"Well, yes; the motive does you credit."
"You ascertained beforehand, as you know, that he would have plenty to pay me back with later on, and, after all, the sum was only a small one."
"To you, perhaps."
"But to him it would mean everything, and I owe him more than gold can ever pay. As I told you before, he saved my life and nearly lost his own in doing it."
"Quite a pretty little romance, I own; worked up into a story it would read very well. But how about the present situation?"
"He must not know, of course."
"And you expect me, a lawyer, to equivocate—to say one thing and mean another—to talk, as it were, with my tongue in my cheek? Oh, Miss Grover, what would become of the profession—I mean morally—if all clients were like you?"