"Money! You shock me! You horrify me! Could that be possible? Is there such weakness in human nature?" "Quite possible, I assure you. You have been yourself describing the influence of these unregulated likings. How do you know that they may not get the better of you in another way? Take my advice, and keep your china. It will do you less harm in your own possession than in that of anybody else." "If I could think so, my dear Money." "Think it over, my dear Lady Limpenny; look at it from this point of view, and let me know your decision--then we can talk about it again." Lady Limpenny relapsed for a while into reflection, with a doubtful and melancholy expression upon her face. Money, however, had gained his point, or, as he would himself have expressed it, "choked her off" for the moment. "I don't like your new friend," said Minola to Victor. "My new friend? Who's he?" "Your friend Mr. St. Paul." "Oh, he isn't a new friend, or a friend at all. He is rather an old acquaintance, if anything." "Well, I don't like him." "Nor I. Don't let yourself be drawn into much talk with him." "No? Then there _is_ somebody you don't like, Mr. Heron. That's a healthy sign. I really thought you liked all men and all women, without exception." "Well, I am not good at disliking people, but I don't like _him_, and I didn't like to see him talking to you." "Indeed? Yet he is a political ally of yours and of Mr. Money now." "That's a different thing; and I don't know anything very bad of him, only I had rather you didn't have too much to say to him. He's a rowdy--that's all. If I had a sister, I shouldn't care to have him for an acquaintance of hers." "Is it a vice to know him?" "Almost, for women," Heron said abruptly; and presently, having left Minola, interposed, as if without thinking of it, between Lucy Money and St. Paul, who was engaging her in conversation. CHAPTER XIV. A MIDNIGHT CONFIDENCE.