“Well?” she answered blankly, for want of something else to say.
“What will you give me for this letter?” he asked, carefully replacing it in his wallet and transferring it to his pocket with an air of supreme satisfaction.
“I have nothing to give, Ralph.”
“But you can find something quite easily,” he urged, with mock politeness. “Your ladyship must control a bit of cash-money. Remember, I’ve already made enquiries, and I know quite well that this man Bracondale is extremely wealthy. Surely he doesn’t keep too tight a hold on the purse-strings!”
“I have already told you that I have no money except what Lord Bracondale gives me, and he often looks at my banker’s pass-book. He would quickly ask me where the money had gone to.”
“Bah! You are a woman, and a woman can easily make an excuse. He’ll believe anything if he is really fond of you, as I suppose he must be. You wouldn’t like him to have that letter—would you, now?”
“No. I’ve told you that,” she replied, her pale, dry lips moving nervously.
“Then we shall have to discuss very seriously ways and means, and come to terms, my girl,” was his rough rejoinder.
“But how can I make terms with you?”