"'Why, if I had died, somebody would have had three thousand pounds. This number of _Threepenny Bits_ would have been found on my body, and would have entitled my heir to that amount of assurance money. I need not tell you who my heir is, nor to whom I had left my little all.' "I looked into his face and from the tenderness that overflowed it I saw he fancied himself the favored mortal. There is no end to the conceit of young men. A sensible fellow would have known at once that my brother was the only person reasonably entitled to my scanty belongings. However, there is no good done by disturbing a lover's complacency. "'I do not want your money,' he answered, again passionately pressing my tulle veil to my lips. 'I infinitely prefer your life.' "'What a bloodthirsty highwayman!' "'I shall steal another kiss. I would rather have you than all the gold in the world.' "'Still, gold is the next best thing,' I said, smiling at his affectionateness which my absence had evidently fostered. 'So being on the point of death, as I thought, I resolved to make death worth dying, and leave a heap of gold to the man I loved. This number of _Threepenny Bits_ was not mine originally. When the crash occurred it was being read by the old gentleman in the opposite corner but his next of kin is a hypocritical young scapegrace (so he told me) and I thought it would be far nicer for _my_ heir to come in for the money. So I took it from his body the very instant before I fainted dead away!' "'My heroine!' he cried again. 'So you thought of your Richard even at the point of death. What a sweet assurance of your love!' "'Yes, an assurance of three thousand pounds,' I answered, laughing merrily. 'And now, perhaps, you will let me read the details of the catastrophe. The reporters seem to know ever so much more about it than I do. It's getting dusk and I can hardly see--I wonder what was the name of old grizzly-growler--ah! here it is--"The pocket-book contained letters addressed to Josiah Twaddon, Esquire, and----"' "'Twaddon, did you say?' gasped Richard, clutching the paper frantically. "'Yes--don't! You've torn it. Twaddon, I can see it plainly.' "'Does it give his address?' Richard panted. "'Yes,' I said, surprised. I was just going on to read that, '4, Bucklesbury Buildings----' "'Great heavens!' he cried. "'What is it? Why are you so pale and agitated? Was he anything to you. Ah, I guess it--by my prophetic soul, your uncle!' "'Yes,' he answered bitterly. 'My uncle! My mother's brother! Wretched woman, what have you done?' "My heart was beating painfully and I felt hot all over, but outwardly I froze. "'You know what I have done,' I replied icily. "'Yes, robbed me of three thousand pounds!' he cried. "'How dare you say that?' I answered indignantly. 'Why, it was for you I meant them.' "The statement was not, perhaps, strictly accurate, but my indignation was sufficiently righteous to cover a whole pack of lies.