'Mere accident,' she answered. 'I had once occasion to tell my late
brother of a visit which I paid to Miss Lockwood, when I was last
in England. He took no interest at what happened at the interview,
but something struck him in my way of relating it. He said,
"You describe what passed between you and the lady with the point
and contrast of good stage dialogue. You have the dramatic instinct--
try if you can write a play. You might make money." That put it into
my head.'
Those last words seemed to startle Francis. 'Surely you don't
want money!' he exclaimed.
'I always want money. My tastes are expensive. I have nothing
but my poor little four hundred a year--and the wreck that is left
of the other money: about two hundred pounds in circular notes--
no more.'
Francis knew that she was referring to the ten thousand pounds paid
by the insurance offices. 'All those thousands gone already!'
he exclaimed.
She blew a little puff of air over her fingers. 'Gone like that!'
she answered coolly.
'Baron Rivar?'
She looked at him with a flash of anger in her hard black eyes.
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