This was already being done, Van Heldre having moistened a finger, and begun handling the notes in regular bank-clerk style. "All right; five fifty," he said. "And he said they were shrimps," said Mrs Van Heldre. "Eh? I did?" said Uncle Luke with a grim look and a twinkle of the eye. "Nonsense, it must have been you." "Look here, Luke Vine," said Van Heldre; "is it any use to try and teach you at your time of life?" "Not a bit; so don't try." "But why expose yourself to all this trouble and risk? Why didn't your broker send you a cheque?" "Because I wouldn't let him." "Why not have a banking account, and do all your money transactions in an ordinary way?" "Because I like to do things in my own way. I don't trust bankers, nor anybody else." "Except my husband," said Mrs Van Heldre, beaming. "Nonsense, ma'am, I don't trust him a bit. You do as I tell you, Van. Put those notes in your safe till I ask you for them. I had that bit of money in a company I doubted, so I sold out. I shall put it in something else soon." "You're a queer fellow, Luke." "Eh? I'm not the only one of my family, am I? What's to become of brother George when that young scape-grace has ruined him? What's to become of Louie, when we're all dead and buried, and out of all this worry and care? What's to become of my mad sister, who squandered her money on a French scamp, and made what she calls her heart bankrupt?" "Nearly done questioning?" said Van Heldre, doubling the notes longwise. "No, I haven't, and don't play with that money as if it was your wife's curl-papers." Van Heldre shrugged his shoulders, and placed the notes in his pocket. "And as I was saying when your husband interrupted me so rudely, Mrs Van Heldre, what's to become of that boy by-and-by? Money's useful sometimes, though I don't want it myself." "Ah! you needn't look at me, Mr Luke Vine. It's of no use for you to pretend to be a cynic with me." "Never pretend anything, ma'am," said Uncle Luke rising; "and don't be rude. I did mean to come in and have some conger-pie to-night; now I won't." "No, you didn't mean to do anything of the sort, Luke Vine," said Mrs Van Heldre tartly; "I know you better than that. If I've asked you to come and have a bit of dinner with us like a Christian once, I've asked you five hundred times, and one might just as well ask the hard rock." "Just as well, ma'am; just as well. There, I'm going. Take care of that money, Van. I shall think out a decent investment one of these days." "When you want it there it is," said Van Heldre quietly. "Hope it will be. And now look here; I want to know a little more about the Count." "The Count?" said Mrs Van Heldre. "My nephew, ma'am. And I hope you feel highly honoured at having so distinguished a personage in your husband's service." "What does he mean, dear?" "Mean, ma'am? Why you know how his aunt has stuffed his head full of nonsense about French estates."