“That’s right,” he said, with a gasp of relief. “That’s talking sensibly. I knew you’d say so, Bell.” “Yes, you knew I’d sell myself, didn’t you?” she retorted, with a dangerous flash of her black eyes. “Well, we’ll see. Give me hold of that money first.” He took out his pocketbook, and with a hot, trembling hand extracted the notes and held them out to her. She took them carelessly, but counted them. “Right,” she said. “And now about the future. You think I’m a fool----” “Bella----” “No; I suppose we lived long enough together for you to think different to that; it wasn’t long, was it?” with a grin. “It wasn’t my fault we didn’t get on,” he stammered. She laughed scornfully. “Yours? No, I’d had enough of you pretty quickly. I don’t like your kind, Mr. Bradstone. I like a gentleman or a rough; you’re a half-and-half, and a thorough cad! Poor girl! how I pity her!” and she laughed. He winced and his face went livid. “Never mind her----” he said, hoarsely. “Oh,” she cut in, “I’m not good enough to mention her, ain’t I? What’s her name?” “Olivia,” he said, reluctantly. “O--livia. And she’s a swell, of course? Oh, I’ve heard all about her, excepting how you managed to get her in your clutches. And I’ll know that soon. I’ll get her to tell me.” He started, and let his shifty eyes fix themselves on her face. “You’ll get her to tell you?” he breathed. “Yes,” she said, defiantly, with a grin. “I’m going to make you open your eyes, Mr. Bradstone. I’m going to be a great lady myself. Oh, you may stare! And I mean to know your wife. I’ve took a fancy to her; she’s the swellest thing I’ve ever seen, even among the swells, and I mean to get as close as wax with her.” “You----” He put his hand to his forehead and looked at her in amazement. She laughed. “Yes, and you can’t prevent me, Mr. Bradstone. No, I think not! Oh, I know your game; but it won’t do. Just whisper a word against me to your pretty wife, and I’ll up and tell her the whole story.” His hand dropped, and he stood as if turned to stone, his small eyes fixed upon her mocking face. “I--I don’t understand. By God, you’re enough to drive a man mad.” His teeth clinched. “If this is a joke, get it over and come to business. How much do you want to hold your tongue? Out with it and have done with it.” She advanced toward him, threateningly. “Drop that,” she said. “Don’t use that kind of tone to me. I’m not going to be bullied, Mr. Bradstone. You’d better come down a peg or two, or I’ll----” She looked round. “I suppose I could collect a reg’lar crowd in a couple of minutes,” and she opened her lips. He seized her arm, his face working. “Hush!” he said. “I--I was only in fun. What is it you do mean? How can you be a great lady, as you call it? How can you--you know my wife?”