"What have I to do with it?" asked Miss Chandler, with calm scorn. "I am not one of the emotional kind to become interested in criminals."
"And is that all that you have to say to me?"
"All? What more would you have me say?"
"At least that you are sorry."
"I repeat that I am not of a sentimental nature. I will say, however, that I am sorry you forced this story from me."
"Not for what you have done? Oh, my sister—for you are my sister—listen to me. I don't know what that man is to you, but I beg of you, for your own sake, not to do again the dreadful thing you have done to-night. Think of the consequences!"
A hard, cruel, sneering laugh rippled quietly through the elder girl's lips.
"Fancy the daughter of Lena Mauprat preaching honesty!" she exclaimed, with heartless sarcasm. "My dear, are you anxious to know who that man was who forced me to produce that money for him? Well, since I have seen how perfectly I can trust you, I don't mind telling you that he is my father, your mother's husband, an ex-convict, a gambler, and presumably a thief. I am very anxious that his relationship to me should not be known to my respected adopted father, who knows nothing whatever of my parentage, save that they were poor. I am expecting to make a brilliant marriage, thanks to my prospective millions, and I cannot afford to spoil it with any romantic stories of convict fathers and mothers. You are sensible enough to understand that, I am quite sure, and will do nothing to spoil your sister's chances. Am I not correct?"
The speech was so heartless, so utterly cold-blooded, that Leonie, even in her half-stunned condition, shuddered.
"You have nothing to fear from me!" she answered wearily. "I don't seem to realize just yet what has happened, but as I have been in ignorance of your existence until to-night, I can try to forget, if you so wish! Is there nothing kind that you can say to me, for our——"