“I should say the whole thing would not cost more than three or four million dollars.” “Three--or four.” I laughed aloud. “Not much difference there. Now which is it--three or four?” “Perhaps nearer four. Margot must have a _good_ income.” “To be sure,” said I. “The whole object would be defeated if she hadn’t the means----” “The money,” I suggested. “Why use these evasive words? We’re talking a plain subject. Let’s use its language.” “The money, then,” acquiesced she, resolutely good-humored. “If she hadn’t the money to make a proper appearance.” “Naturally, to lead in society you must lead in spending money.... Well--it can’t be done.” She paled, half started from her chair, sank back again. There was a long silence. Then she said, “You have never been cruel, Godfrey. You won’t be cruel now. You won’t destroy my life work. You won’t shatter Margot’s happiness.” “The whole thing is--is nauseating to me,” said I. Her short, pretty upper lip quivered. Her eyes filled. “If you didn’t approve, dear, why didn’t you stop me long ago? Why did you let me go on until there was no turning back?” I was silent. There seemed to be no answer to that. “Did you do it purposely, Godfrey?” said she, with melancholy eyes upon me. “Did you lure us on, so that you could crush us at one stroke?” I was silent. “I can’t believe that of you. I won’t believe it until you compel me to.” “As I understand it,” said I, “you propose that I hand over to this young man four million----” “Only about half of it, Godfrey,” cried she, reviving. “The other half would be Margot’s--for her own income.” “Then that I hand over to this amiable, insignificant young foreigner two million dollars to induce him to consent to the degradation of marrying my daughter--to have him going about, saying in effect, ‘It is true, she is only one of those low Americans, but don’t forget that I got two million dollars for stooping.’ Is that the proposition?” “You know it isn’t!” cried she. “He doesn’t feel that he is degrading himself. He feels proud of winning her--the most beautiful, the best mannered girl in London. But it’d be simply impossible for them to marry without the money. _I_ shouldn’t want it. They would be wretched. You talk like a sentimental schoolboy, Godfrey. How could two refined, sensitive people such as Hugh and Margot, used to every luxury, used to being foremost in society--how could they be happy without the means----” “The money,” I corrected blandly. “Without the money needed to maintain their position as marquis and marchioness of Crossley?” I nodded assent. “He has only about five thousand--twenty-five thousand of our money--a year. That is ridiculous for a marquis. He has to keep all his houses closed and run as economically as possible. Even then they cost him nearly seventy-five thousand dollars a year to maintain.” “And he has only twenty-five thousand!”