“You are really wonderful, my dear. As you so crudely remark⁠—money! Will you not be seated?”

She sank down on the couch dejectedly and watched him take a chair opposite her.

“Your most noble lord and master lent me a trifling sum the other day, but very trifling. I am, as usual, hard-pressed. And that young fool Andrew must needs fall into debt.”

My lady opened wide her eyes in surprise.

“Do you tell me you need money from Richard to pay Andrew’s debts?” she asked, frankly incredulous.

“I do not. Is it likely? The remark was purely by the way.”

“Well, in any case, Andrew borrowed three thousand from poor Dick only yesterday. I know, because I heard him speak of it.”