"Well, if one could do anything to get these poems published, or brought out in some way--if it could be done without Mr. Blanchet's knowledge, or if he could be got to approve of it, and was not too proud." "All that I have been thinking of already," Victor said. "I do think it's a shame that a fellow shouldn't have a chance of fighting his battle for the want of a few wretched pounds." "How glad I am now that I spoke of this to you! Then if I get up a little plot, you'll help me in it." "I'll do everything--delighted." "But first you must understand me. This is for my dear old friend, Mary Blanchet--not for Mr. Blanchet; I don't particularly care about him, in that sort of way, and I fancy that men generally can take care of themselves; but I can't bear to have Mary Blanchet disappointed, and that is why I want to do something. Now will you help me? I mean will you help me in my way?" "I will help in anyway you like, so long as I am allowed to help at all. But I don't quite understand what you mean." "Don't you? I wish you did without being told so very, very clearly. Well, my Mary Blanchet is proud; and though she might accept for her brother a helping hand from me, it would be quite a different thing where a stranger was concerned. In plain English, Mr. Heron, whatever money is to be paid must be paid by me; or there shall be no plot. Now you understand." "Yes, certainly; I quite understand your feelings. I should have liked----" "No doubt; but there are so many things one could have liked. The thing is now, will you help me--on my conditions?" "Of course I will; but what help can I give, as you have ordered things?" "There are ever so many things to do which I couldn't do, and shouldn't even know how to go about: seeing publishers and printers, and all that kind of work." "All that I'll do with pleasure; and I am only sorry that you limit me to that. May I ask, Miss Grey, how old are you?" "What on earth has that to do with the matter? Shall you have to give the publishers a certificate of my birth?" "No, it's not for that. But you seem to me a very young woman, and yet you order people and things as if you were a matron." Minola smiled and colored a little. "I have lived an odd and lonely sort of life," she said, "and never learned manners; perhaps that is the reason. If I don't please you, Mr. Heron--frankly, I shan't try." There was something at once constrained and sharp in her manner, such as Heron had not observed before. She seemed changed somehow as she spoke these unpropitiatory words. "Oh, you do please me," he said; "sincere people always please me. Remember that I too admire the 'Misanthrope.'" "Yes, very well; I am glad that you agree to my terms--and we are fellow-conspirators?" "We are--and----" "Stop! Here comes Mary."