At first Heron did not quite understand her. Then he suddenly caught her meaning.
"Oh, that fellow? I didn't mean him. I never could have supposed that you were likely to be taken in by him."
"To do him justice, Mr. Heron, he never seems to have any thought of taking any one in. Such as he is he always shows himself, I think."
"Oh, I don't care about him——"
"Nor I, Mr. Heron, I assure you. But whom then do you care about—in that sense?"
"I distrust a man who takes a woman's money in a reckless and selfish way," Heron said impetuously. "That is a man I would not trust. Don't trust him, Miss Grey; believe me, he is a cad—I mean a selfish and deceitful fellow. I can't bear the thought of a girl like you being sacrificed—or sacrificing yourself as you might do perhaps—and I tell you that he is just the sort of man——"
"Are you speaking of Mr. Blanchet now, Mr. Heron?" Her tone was cold and clear. She was evidently hurt, but determined now to have the whole question out.
"Yes, I am speaking of Blanchet, of course—of whom else could I be speaking in such a way?"
"Mr. Blanchet is my friend, Mr. Heron; I thought he was a friend of yours as well."
"Well, I thought he was a manly, honest sort of fellow—I don't think so now," Victor went on impetuously, warming himself as he went into increasing strength of conviction. "I know you will hate me for telling you this, but I can't help that. I am as much interested in your happiness as if—as if you were my sister—and if you were my sister, I would just do the same."