“Delightful creature. She was telling me the other day of the awful effects this extravagance produces on the high-born and wealthy. Many young ladies run up bills of enormous amounts, trusting to their marriage for the means of payment. But gentlemen do not marry.” “And their bills run on.” “Exactly—you have hit my very thought. There is one family, she tells me, where mother and daughters are deeply in debt to her, none of them daring to confide in the others for fear that the father and husband—a very strict man—should discover their embarrassments.” “Did she tell you who they were, Mrs Magens?” “No; but she would if I asked her, in a moment.” “I daresay, Mrs Magens, your own dresses amount to no small sum.” “Oh, I am so very ’umble.” “But have you no little bill with your friend, no little sum Angelo ignores?” “How cunning you are, Mr Bromley! However, it don’t amount to a very large figure.” “By the way, is not Madame Mélanie a friend of Madame Carron’s? I see them driving together.” “Yes; I believe they knew each other in Hungary. There, again, Madame Carron is deeply in debt to her.” “But I thought she made such enormous sums. Does she owe more than you, Mrs Magens?” “Oh, my liability is not more than what you would call a ‘pony,’ Mr Bromley.” “But how does Madame Carron manage to contract debts?” “She is obliged to dress expensively for her parts, and she is very charitable, especially to some worthless relative who absorbs all her income.” “A husband?” “No, a brother, I believe; although Mélanie is so charming a person it is horrible to be under an obligation to her.” “Well, Mrs Magens, I daresay we can find some way of relieving you from yours.” “I could never think of such a thing, Mr Bromley.” “Well, do me a little favour; we are old friends, Mrs Magens. Find out the name of the family who are so much indebted, and of Madame Carron’s brother. Write to me.” “Certainly, I will. There’s a knock. Won’t you stay to see Angelo?” The door opened, and Mélanie entered the room. CHAPTER XIII. Lady Ilminster was a very charming woman—kind, gracious, and good-natured. Very rich herself, the wife of a rich man, she delighted in throwing about her the pleasures which wealth confers, and in inviting others to share them.